Ward takes lead at Women's British Open By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer

Ward takes lead at Women's British Open By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer
22 minutes ago



ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - Wendy Ward made five birdies and shot a 3-under 70 to take the early clubhouse lead Friday in the second round of the British Open, putting pressure on Lorena Ochoa.

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Minutes after Ward walked off the 18th at 5-under 141, Ochoa made her first bogey of the tournament to slip to 6-under at the 11th.

If she hadn't missed a 4-foot putt at the last, Ward would have been tied with Ochoa. The Mexican, chasing her first major, carded a 6-under 67 on Thursday.

"I didn't care to finish that way," Ward said. "But I'm still pleased with the day."

Michelle Wie dropped three shots on the front nine to slip to 3-over with the tougher back nine to come. Having shown signs in her first-round 73 that she is finally recovering from her left wrist injury, the 17-yer-old Wie bogeyed the first, fifth and seventh holes.

Juli Inkster moved into contention for the only major she hasn't won with a 5-under 68.

Inkster, who won her first two majors as a rookie in 1984 and now is chasing her eighth Grand Slam event, improved 11 shots over her 79 in the first round and was at 1-over 147 going into the weekend.

The 47-year-old American went out in 31, including an eagle on the 514-yard fifth, and a birdie on the 10th put her at 6 under for the round. But she dropped a shot on the 15th and failed to birdie the par 5s on the back nine, settling for her 68.

A victory at St. Andrews would make Inkster only the second woman to capture the Super Slam on the LPGA Tour. She already has the career Grand Slam — the Kraft Nabisco Championship, LPGA Championship, U.S. Women's Open and the du Maurier Classic. The Women's British Open replaced du Maurier as a major in 2001.

Karrie Webb is the only LPGA player to win all five, capturing the British Open at Turnberry in 2002.

The Women's British Open is the first women's pro event at St. Andrews, regarded as the home of golf.

Ochoa, who opened with a 67, was at 7 under for the tournament through seven holes. Strong wind was forecast for the afternoon.

"It is just a different golf course out there today," Inkster said. "I'm kind of hoping we get a little wind out there this afternoon."

Inkster credited the accuracy of her drives for the low score.

"You can drive it anywhere and be conservative, but in order to make some birdies you have to drive it in the right spot, and today I did that," she said.

Inkster squandered a chance to become the oldest winner of an LPGA Tour event last week when she led the Evian Masters in France by two after three rounds. She had three bogeys in the last five holes to finish one shot out of a playoff, won by Natalie Gulbis.

Defending champion Sherri Steinhauer, who has won this event three times, improved to 3 under after a 71 gave her a second-round score of 143.

"It was very calm on the outward holes and not very difficult," said Steinhauer, who picked up two shots on the outward nine, including a 50-foot birdie putt at the sixth. "I wish I could have taken a little more advantage."

Annika Sorenstam, who won the 2003 Women's British Open at Royal Lytham for one of her 10 majors, also improved to 3 under after a 71 that included four birdies.

"I thought I hit the ball beautifully today and had a lot of chances," said the Swede, who missed putts from 7 and 4 feet at the ninth and 12th holes to drop shots. "Those two would have been nice, but otherwise I was playing to my game plan."

In-Bee Park of South Korea, who was tied for fourth at the U.S. Women's Open and is chasing her first tournament victory, was at 4 under until dropping five shots in five holes. She finished with a 79 for a 2 over 148.