Jean Zedlitz, displaying unusual composure after years of failure on the LPGA tour, fired a 1-under-par 71 today to grab a two-stroke lead midway through the Rochester International.

"I've kind of made a commitment to myself to just go play well and have fun and enjoy it while I can," said Zedlitz, who moved to 5-under-par 139. "Whatever happens happens."

Sweden's Eva Dahllof carded a 70 to join Leigh Ann Mills and Cindy McCurdy at 3-under. Australia's Karrie Webb, the leading money-winner this year, roared back into contention with a 67 that moved her to 2-under along with Liselotte Neumann and Tammie Green.

South Korea's Se Ri Pak, struggling to regain her form as a rookie last year, fired a 66 -- the second round's best score -- to claw her way back to 1-under.

Michele Redman, who had shared the first-round lead with Zedlitz, fell away with a 79. Defending champion Rosie Jones carded 69 to get back to even par.

Zedlitz shook off a bogey on No. 6, stayed clear of the rough and picked up two birdies on the back nine of the tree-lined Locust Hill course. Her approach shot on No. 13 skidded across the green, then rolled back down the slope and ended three feet below the hole for an easy birdie.

The Pleasanton, Calif., native was a career-best third at Springfield, Ill., as a rookie in 1993 but her winnings plunged to just $1,806 by 1996.

Thoughts of quitting surfaced for a while, she admitted, "but heck, what else am I going to do? I always knew I could play better and I really didn't want to quit on a downturn."

Zedlitz has been burdened with nonexempt status in five of her seven years on tour, meaning she must either qualify for tournaments or hope for a slot to open.

Aided by a golf instructor since January, she has smoothed her swing, revived her confidence and gathered momentum. She finished 30th in the U.S. Women's Open last Sunday.

Mills, who has missed the cut in four of her last five outings, benefited from improved putting on bone-dry greens and ``a little more patience.''

"You're going to get some good breaks and bad breaks, so it's going to work on your nerves," Mills said. "You're going to have to be really patient."

Dahllof, who twice tied for sixth place this spring, is having her best year on tour.

"Experience, patience and confidence" are the reasons, she said. "Not trusting in what you're doing -- I think we all have to go through that to get better."

AP