Sorenstam takes narrow advantage

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam fired a four-under-par 67 to move into a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the rain-affected LPGA Championship on Saturday.

After play was completely washed out on Friday, the defending champion and world number one is on target to capture the second major of the season and is relishing the prospect of playing 36 holes on Sunday.

Sorenstam played 34-holes over the same DuPont Country Club course on the final day a year ago before beating South Korea's Grace Park at the first hole of a sudden-death play-off in another weather-interrupted championship.

"I hope it's a good omen," she said "I certainly don't mind having to play two rounds in one day. I'm fit and I can handle it."

Sorenstam had five birdies -- including four in a row from the 10th -- and her only error was a three-putt from 40-feet at the last to finished on seven under 135.

She holds a slim advantage over first round leader Jennifer Rosales, who overcame a shaky start to add a 70 to her 66, and American veteran Juli Inkster, who's 66 was the lowest round of the day.

American rookie Reilley Rankin, who has miraculously returned to full fitness after breaking her back five years ago, and South Korea's Kang Soo-Yun share fourth place on five under.

Park, the winner of the season's first major, was another shot back after a 70.

Sorenstam, aiming for a seventh career major, admitted that her game was almost as good as it got.

"I hit every green and that only happens once or twice a year so to do it in a major is especially satisfying," the 34-year-old said.

"I had a lot of birdie chances but didn't make any of them on the front nine. But my experience helped me stay patient and I got on a roll from the turn.

"It's never fun to finish with a bogey, but I was certainly happy with 67.

"Now I'm going to have a good night's rest and be ready for tomorrow. We play 36-holes a day in Solheim Cup and I don't think I'll run out of gas.

"And I think it's good that the LPGA insist that majors are 72-holes. It's much better than 54."

Sorenstam has won four times from eight starts this year.

The run began with a win in the ANZ Ladies' Masters in Australia in February and she has gone on to win three times on the U.S.-based LPGA Tour.

Inkster had half a dozen birdies as she set her sights on an eighth major just weeks short of her 44th birthday.

"My swing hasn't been in good shape so far this year, but I got it going today," she said.

Starting on the back nine, Rosales dropped two shots in the first three holes, but got back in the groove with the help of four birdies.

Winner of her first event in Atlanta in May, the 25-year-old from the Philippines admitted it was going to be a tough final day.

"It's going to be hard especially with all the pressure. But I just hope to hit a lot of fairways because going into the rough takes a lot out of you," the Californian-based player said.

Rain washes out any play on Friday

Heavy overnight rain ruled out play on Friday in the second round of the LPGA Championship, the second women's major of the season.

Jennifer Rosales, from the Philippines, led after the first round on five-under-par 66, a shot ahead of South Korea's Gloria Park, Japan's Chiharu Yamaguchi and Britain's Karen Stupples.

Defending champion and world number one Annika Sorenstam was in another group of three on 68.

Organisers hope to play the second round on Saturday and complete the final 36 holes on Sunday.

"We had over an inch of rain overnight and with more showers forecast we decided it would be futile to try and get the course ready for play," said LPGA official Janet Lindsay.

"Several greens are under water and the bunkers are unplayable."

The championship has a history of weather delays. Last year Sorenstam played 33 holes on the Sunday before

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