Sweden's Sophie Gustafson shot a three-under
69 to remain in the lead Friday after two rounds of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA
Challenge.
Chasing her first win in six years, Gustafson completed two trips around the
Blackhawk course at 10-under 134 for a one-shot lead over world No. 1 Lorena
Ochoa and two other players.
Gustafson drove the par-four 17th green and two-putted for the birdie that
gave her sole possession of the lead again. She held a two-stroke advantage
going into the round.
Ochoa, looking to snap a five-month losing streak, shot a five-under 67 to
move into a share of second place with Maria Hjorth (66) and Shanshan Feng
(67) at nine-under 135.
Top-10 players Suzann Pettersen (68) and Angela Stanford (70) lead a four-way
tie at seven-under 137.
Gustafson secured her first 36-hole lead in more than 15 months despite her
continued struggles with her putter.
"It was pretty much the same as it was yesterday, but I'm playing good so that
obviously helps a lot," said Gustafson, who has taken 63 putts through two
rounds.
She didn't need a hot putter to collect her first birdie at No. 1, where she
knocked a sand wedge to just three feet and converted the short effort. She
holed a 25-foot birdie putt at No. 4.
The long-hitting Gustafson reached the par-five ninth in two shots and posted
another birdie to make the turn at three-under for the round. She three-putted
the 13th green for her only bogey of the day.
Her distance helped again on the 333-yard 17th, where she drove to the edge of
the green and two-putted from 25 feet for her fourth birdie of the day, giving
her a one-shot lead over Ochoa and the others.
She could use a win.
Gustafson, a consistent winner on her home continent, has four career LPGA
Tour victories, but none since the 2003 Samsung World Championship. She won
the Women's British Open in 2000 before it became a major on the LPGA Tour
"I feel good about my shots," Gustafson said after her round. "I'm going to go
and work on my putting now."
Ochoa has clung to her No. 1 ranking despite going winless in her last 10
starts -- an unmatched drought for the Mexican star who has dominated the
women's game over the past four seasons.
She eagled her second hole, the par-five 11th, and posted four birdies and a
bogey the rest of the way. She birdied two of her last three holes to secure
her place near the top.
"I think I am giving myself a lot of birdie chances. I have been playing
good," said Ochoa. "I have had a really good driving day today again. So I
just hope I can continue that. For the weekend, I will keep it exactly the
same. Nothing has gone wrong, so there is nothing to change. I'm just trying
to keep it simple."
The cut line fell at two-over 146 with 79 players moving on to the weekend.
Jiyai Shin, the tour's leading money winner, withdrew from the tournament.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
