Weather Makes For a Long Day During Second Round of Michelob ULTRA Open

The second round of the Michelob ULTRA Open at Kingsmill was slowed by inclement weather throughout the region on Friday.  Though play was twice halted due to unplayable course conditions, the weather failed to put a damper on the performances of some of the best golfers in the world.

Headlining the day's performances was world No. 2 Annika Sorenstam.  Sorenstam followed her opening round 64 by firing a 5-under par 66 on Friday.  Her 12-under par total is the best 36 hole start in tournament history.  More importantly, it gives Sorenstam a three-stroke cushion over No. 1 Lorena Ochoa and Jeong Jang heading into the weekend.

Jang, who posted a solid 4-under par 67 in Thursday's opening round, moved to the top of the leaderboard after closing with birdies on 16, 17 and 18 for a 5-under par 66 and two-day total of 133 (-9).

Jang, who was able to finish her round before the day's second weather delay, did not seem affected by the conditions.

“I've been hitting good drives, and had good feeling with my putter.  So I didn't worry about the weather that much,” she said.

Ochoa followed her first round 65 with a 3-under par 68.  A bogey on her final hole of the day, the par 4 ninth, kept her three shots off the pace.

Other big movers during the second round were Christina Kim, Meena Lee (-3), Kristy McPherson (-3) and Meredith Duncan (-3), all of whom shot rounds of 68 or better and find themselves in the top 10 heading into the weekend.

First round leader Mhairi McKay struggled on Friday, falling out of the top 10 and eight shots behind the leader with a 4-over 75.

Paula Creamer, third on the 2008 LPGA money list, recorded three birdies in the last four holes for a second round 69.  Her two-day total of 140 (-2) ensures her a spot in the field this weekend.

World No. 3 Suzann Pettersen posted her second straight round of even par, making the cut but leaving herself with an uphill climb to become the Michelob ULTRA Open's first repeat champion.

Third round action is scheduled to begin around 9 a.m. local time on Saturday.