Estill takes one stroke advantage

The Annika chase didn't last long.

Just hours after Annika Sorenstam seemed assured of the second-round lead at the Corning Classic after an impressive 5-under 67 Friday, Michelle Estill shot a stunning 64 and was one stroke in front of the Swedish star.

Estill was at 13-under 131, one stroke better than the 36-hole record set last year by Lorie Kane and Catriona Matthew. Sorenstam was alone in second, four shots ahead of 2001 Corning champion Carin Koch, who had a 68.

Liselotte Neumann, who began the day tied for the lead with Sorenstam, struggled to a 72 that included five bogeys, three birdies and an eagle. She was at 137, tied with Sherri Steinhauer (70), Natalie Gulbis (71), Mhairi McKay (66), Denise Killeen (68) and Laura Diaz (68), who won here two years ago.

But the day belonged to Estill, and it didn't take her long to realize it might be something special. Playing in only her fourth tournament of the year, Estill had five birdies and a bogey for a 31 to match the tournament record on the back nine.

"I got off to a smooth start and just managed to stay afloat," said Estill, whose 15-foot birdie putt into the wind at No. 9 gave her the lead. "The wind kind of affected the putts, but I made it. It was tough out there, but it was lots of fun."

Sorenstam was long gone when Estill started her challenge. Estill, who had an opening 67, jumped to 11 under and moved within a shot of the lead with an eagle at No. 5.

The round matched Estill's career low and was quite a turnaround from last year, when she made only two cuts in 20 tournaments. Her only LPGA win came 13 years ago, so she's certainly in unfamiliar territory.

"I've probably never (been in the lead). When I won in Portland, I wasn't leading after the second round," said Estill, who needed only 25 putts Friday. "But there's two days left. Two days is a lot of golf on this course."

Michelle Estill carded eight birdies and an eagle on Friday. (AP)
Despite ever-changing conditions, Sorenstam followed her opening 65 with another solid performance. She made three birdies and five pars on the back nine to move to 10 under. After a bogey at No. 1, a par-4 that is the toughest hole on the Corning Country Club course, she rebounded by making birdie at No. 2, then drained a 14-foot downhill putt that rolled over a ridge and curved left more than a foot before dropping into the hole for an eagle at No. 5.

"The wind was gusting, very strong at times. It made the course a lot trickier," said Sorenstam, who started the tournament without even a practice round after two weeks off. "Today, I was feeling more comfortable. I knew more where to hit it."

Sorenstam followed a three-putt bogey at No. 8 by hitting a 9-iron to 5 feet and making the putt for birdie on her closing hole.

"I'm quite pleased with my round, maybe not as solid as yesterday, but then on the other hand the wind was quite tricky," said Sorenstam, who has won 50 tournaments since she last played here in 1995, her second year on tour. "At times, it was gusting in both directions. I had a good feel for where the wind was coming from, but there was more crosswind on certain holes than I expected. It makes it tougher."

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