Davies takes lead at Mizuno Classic

Shima-Shi, Japan (Sports Network) - Laura Davies birdied five of her final nine holes on Friday -- including her last -- to shoot a seven-under 65 and take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Mizuno Classic.
Reilley Rankin and Chie Arimura shot rounds of six-under 66 to share second place behind Davies. Erina Hara was another shot further back at five-under 67 and Mie Nakata stood at four-under 68.
Jeong Jang, Brittany Lang, In-Kyung Kim and Joo Mi Kim were all at 69.
Featuring 78 players from the LPGA and the LPGA of Japan, this is the last of three consecutive tournaments in Asia for the LPGA Tour.
Few of the top players in the women's world rankings are on hand.
Notably missing from the field this week are world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa and world No. 3 Annika Sorenstam.
Sorenstam won five consecutive Mizuno Classics from 2001-05 to set an LPGA record, a streak that was snapped by Karrie Webb last year...Full Story

Lorena Ochoa wins 2007 Women's British Open

St. Andrews, Scotland (Sports Network) - This time there would be no meltdown, no miraculous shot from another player, no doubt about it.
Lorena Ochoa has her first major championship.
The Mexican star closed with a one-over 74 in the final round Sunday to win the Women's British Open by four shots, ending her 0-fer in the major championships with a weekend of steady golf on the Scottish coast while all the pressure of dubious past performances in the majors rested on her slight frame.
She seemed to handle it with ease, protecting her first-round 67 with three scores of 74 or better to finally gain that last bit of validation for her now-unassailable No. 1 ranking...Full Story

Ochoa clinging to lead at St. Andrews

St. Andrews, Scotland (Sports Network) - Lorena Ochoa will carry a lead into the weekend of a major championship for the second time this season, still looking for that last bit of validation for her No. 1 world ranking.
The Mexican star managed just an even-par 73 in the second round of the Women's British Open on Friday, but it was good enough to keep her head above a pool of challengers that included Annika Sorenstam, who has was three shots back at St. Andrews using a yardage book given to her by Tiger Woods.
Relying solely on her own measurements, Ochoa was at six-under 140 following a steady, if not unremarkable, round that included two birdies and two bogeys.
Her last bogey came at the par-four 18th, narrowing her lead over Wendy Ward and Catriona Matthew to just a shot...Full Story

D'Alessio, Hong lead; Annika three back in France

Evian-les-Bains, France (Sports Network) - Diana D'Alessio posted a four-under 68 Friday to move into a share of the lead after two rounds of the Evian Masters.
She completed 36 holes at seven-under-par 137 and was joined in the lead by Jin Joo Hong, who carded a two-under 70 in round two.
Two-time winner Annika Sorenstam posted a three-under 69 to move into a share of third at four-under-par 140. She was joined there by 2005 Women's British Open winner Jeong Jang (71) and Brittany Lincicome (74), who was one of three first-round leaders.
Sorenstam bogeyed No. 3 for the second straight day. She recovered to birdie the eighth and ninth to make the turn in minus-two. Around the turn, Sorenstam birdied the 12th and 18th to gain a share of third place....Full Story

Miyazato, Lee to battle for Match Play title

New Rochelle, NY (Sports Network) - Ai Miyazato cruised to a 3 & 2 win over Maria Hjorth on Sunday to advance to the final at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship.
Miyazato, the 12th seed, moves on to face 22nd-seed Seon Hwa Lee, who claimed a 2-up win over Mi Hyun Kim.
Lee picked up her lone tour crown last year at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Miyazato has not won a tour event, but did win the 2005 Qualifying Tournament.
Miyazato won the third and fifth with pars to take an early 2-up lead. She bogeyed the seventh to drop her lead over 40th-seeded Hjorth to 1-up.
The duo traded wins at 11 and 12, but Hjorth fell 2-down as she bogeyed the 14th. Miyazato closed out the match with a par on the par-five 16th.
Lee birdied the first, but Kim fought back to take the third and fourth to move 1-up. Kim bogeyed the fifth to square the match. Lee dropped in a birdie on the par-five ninth and moved 2-up when Kim bogeyed No. 11...Full Story

Mi Hyun Kim, Miyazato head to quarters in Match Play

New Rochelle, NY (Sports Network) - Mi Hyun Kim carded a 3 & 2 win over Rachel Hetherington in Saturday's third round at the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club.
Kim, who is the highest remaining seed at No. 10, moves on to face Jee Young Lee, who beat Laura Diaz 2-up. Just five holes were won in the Hetherington- Kim match, with Kim winning four of them, including three in a five-hole stretch from the 12th.
Lee led 1-up around the turn, but Diaz squared things with a par on 13. Diaz bogeyed 15 and 16 to fall 2-down and they split 17 and 18 giving Lee the 2-up victory...Full Story

Ochoa rolls at Match Play

New Rochelle, NY (Sports Network) - Women's World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa rolled to a 6 & 5 win over Ashleigh Simon in Thursday's opening round of the HSBC Women's World Match Play Championship at Wykagyl Country Club.Ochoa, who beat Paula Creamer to take third in this event last year, already has racked up three wins in the 2007 season.As Ochoa advanced, several big names went down. Second-seeded Karrie Webb watched as 63rd-seeded Charlotte Mayorkas birdied the 18th for a 1-up win...Full Story

Wie to play in Evian Masters, Women's British Open

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (AP) -- It looks as though Michelle Wie will be playing at the birthplace of golf after all.
Wie, who's been trying to work through her struggles in central Florida, plans to enter the Women's British Open at St. Andrews on Aug. 2-5.
The 17-year-old Wie also accepted a sponsor exemption into next week's Evian Masters in France, her first tournament since she withdrew from the U.S. Women's Open in June because of a sore left wrist.
Once viewed as the future of women's golf, Wie was 17 over and on her way to another score in the 80s when she quit at Pine Needles. She has withdrawn from two of her last three tournaments, managing to complete only seven rounds this year with an average score of just under 78.
Wie has not broken par in competition since the final round of the Evian last year, a total of 23 rounds.

Se Ri Pak on cruise control in Ohio

Sylvania, OH (Sports Network) - Se Ri Pak posted a three-under 68 Friday, but it was enough to push her lead to five strokes after two rounds of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic.
Pak, a four-time winner at this event, completed 36 holes at 11-under-par 131, which tied Kelly Robbins' 1997 record.
Jin Young Pak, who is playing in just her fourth event this year, shot a 69 to move into second place at six-under-par 136.
Carri Wood (69) and Meg Mallon (65) are one back at minus-five. Kraft Nabisco winner Morgan Pressel and Jimin Kang share fifth at four-under-par 138.
Se Ri Pak parred her first five holes Friday, then finally got on the board with a six-foot birdie putt on the sixth. Pak came right back with a five-foot birdie effort on the seventh at Highland Meadows Golf Club....Full Story

Few changes mark top of women's rankings

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - While the LPGA Tour had an off-week, the Ladies European Tour was in full swing over the weekend, with Becky Brewerton winning the Ladies English Open.
Brewerton's win netted her a 35-spot bump to No. 92 in the latest Rolex Rankings for women's golf.
The top 13 players all held onto their spots from a week ago: No. 1 Lorena Ochoa was followed by Karrie Webb, Annika Sorenstam, Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen, Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, Se-Ri Pak, Juli Inkster, Mi-Hyun Kim, Ji-Yai Shin, Ai Miyazato and Brittany Lincicome...Full Story

Kerr to No. 4 in world rankings

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Cristie Kerr won her first major championship Sunday at the U.S. Women's Open and moved up one place to No. 4 in the latest Rolex Rankings for women's golf.
Above her, Lorena Ochoa strengthened her hold on the No. 1 ranking with a runner-up finish to Kerr. She now leads No. 2 Karrie Webb by 4.61 average points, up from 3.58 points last week.
Annika Sorenstam finished poorly in the U.S. Women's Open, but still gained ground on Webb for the No. 2 spot after Webb missed the cut.
Kerr's moved to No. 4 dropped McDonald's LPGA champion Suzann Pettersen to No. 5, where she was followed by Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, Se-Ri Pak, Juli Inkster and Mi Hyun Kim to round out the top 10.
Ji-Yai Shin, Ai Miyazato, Brittany Lincicome, Jeong Jang, Shiho Oyama, Jee Young Lee, Stacy Prammanasudh, Mi-Joong Jeon, Yuri Fudoh and Pat Hurst completed the top 20.

Park leads at halfway point of U.S. Women's Open

Southern Pines, NC (Sports Network) - Angela Park posted a two-under 69 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the U.S. Women's Open.
Park completed a weather-delayed 36 holes at five-under-par 137.
Julieta Granada, Ji-Yai Shin and Amy Hung each carded 69s and share second place at three-under-par 139.
Kraft Nabisco champion Morgan Pressel is the last player in red figures at minus-one after a 70 in round two.
The tournament has been delayed several times due to inclement weather pushing the completion of round two to Saturday. Only 24 players completed their first two rounds on Friday, with the rest completing their second round Saturday.
Women's World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, who is still searching for her first major title, posted two straight rounds of even-par 71...Full Story

Wie withdraws from U.S. Women's Open

Southern Pines, NC (Sports Network) - Another tournament, another withdrawal for Michelle Wie.
The 17-year-old star pulled out of the U.S. Women's Open during the second round Saturday, marking the second time she has withdrawn in three starts.
Wie struggled with nagging wrist injuries and withdrew during the first round of the Ginn Tribute four weeks ago, then stirred controversy when she showed up to practice for the McDonald's LPGA Championship that weekend.
She was dangerously close to shooting an 88 at the Ginn Tribute, placing her within range of an obscure LPGA Tour rule that disqualifies any non-member for the remainder of the season if they shoot an 88 or worse.
Wie had an 11-over 82 in the first round of the U.S. Women's Open, which has struggled to get on track in the midst of several weather delays.
She made six bogeys through nine holes of the second round and was 17-over par at the time of her withdrawal.

Weather continues to dominate U.S. Women's Open

Southern Pines, NC (Sports Network) - The U.S. Women's Open has been plagued by weather problems over the first two days.
The first round was completed Friday morning after a 3 1/2 hour weather delay on Thursday. Once the second round commenced Friday, more bad weather blew through the area causing more problems.
Play was stopped twice during the round and the second delay eventually led to action being halted for the day. Lightning was the main culprit, but there was also plenty of rain at Pine Needles as well.
Second-round action is slated to resume at 7:30 a.m. (et) Saturday.
Teenager Angela Park remains atop the leaderboard thanks to her three-under 68 in the first round. She has yet to begin her second round.
All six players -- Ji-Yai Shin, Charlotte Mayorkas, Joo Mi Kim, Shi Hyun Ahn, Amy Hung and Julieta Granada -- tied for second place at minus-one haven't started their second rounds either...Full Story

LPGA Tour: Ochoa defeats teenager in U.S. Women's Open tuneup

Pittsford, NY (Sports Network) - World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa parred the second playoff hole Sunday to defeat rookie teenager In-Kyung Kim and win the Wegmans LPGA.
This was Ochoa's second win at this event, third this season and 12th on the LPGA Tour.
It came at a good time for Ochoa. Despite being the No. 1 player on the money list and the Rolex Rankings, she has yet to capture a major championship. Now, Ochoa will head into next week's U.S. Women's Open at Pine Needles with some momentum.
"I like my chances," acknowledged Ochoa, who pocketed $270,000 for Sunday's win. "I've been playing good. I'm going to try and be very patient and enjoy my week."
She could not have liked her chances on the second playoff hole, No. 10 at Locust Hill Country Club. Kim was first off the tee and hit her drive right, but Ochoa's drive landed farther right of Kim's ball.
Neither player reached the green with her second shot, but Kim's pitch ran 15 feet past the stick. Ochoa cozied her third within three feet, not quite guaranteeing a par, but certainly applying pressure on her teenage opponent.
Kim's putt moved right and she left herself with a longer putt for par than Ochoa. She made the putt, but Ochoa stepped up and converted hers to collect her first playoff win in five tries on tour.
"It was my first playoff win, so I'm really happy," said Ochoa.
She only managed a one-over-par 73 on Sunday, while Kim was steady with an even-par 72. The pair finished regulation tied at eight-under-par 280, which was one clear of Mi Hyun Kim, who bogeyed the last for a three-under 69.
Cristie Kerr posted a one-under 71 and finished in fourth at minus-six.

LPGA Tour: Lee wins Duramed Championship by three shots

Batavia, OH (Sports Network) - Seo-Jae Lee closed with a three-under 69 Sunday to win the Duramed Championship, her first victory on the Duramed Futures Tour.
Lee, an 18-year-old Korean, played the final round at Stonelick Hills without a bogey. She finished three rounds at 15-under 201 for a three-shot win over two players.
The $14,000 first-place check more than doubled her rookie season earnings to $25,277 in nine events. Her previous best finish was a tie for third place at the Louisiana Pelican Classic.
Violeta Retamoza, who shared the overnight lead with Lee, had an even-par 72 Sunday and shared second place with Eunjung Yi (69) at 12-under 204. It was Retamoza's second runner-up finish of the season.
Mollie Fankhauser fired a nine-under 63 to climb from a tie for 33rd place overnight into fourth place alone at 10-under 206. Cortney Reno (69) was another shot further back at 207.

LPGA: Kims share Wegmans LPGA lead

Pittsford, NY (Sports Network) - Mi Hyun Kim and In-Kyung Kim shared the lead Friday after the second round of the Wegmans LPGA.

In-Kyung Kim shot a five-under 67, while Mi Hyun Kim had a four-under 68 to join her at seven-under 137.

They had a two-shot lead on Angela Stanford, who posted a three-under 69 to move into third place alone at five-under 139.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa shot a 71 and shared fourth place with Lindsey Wright (70) at four-under 140. Cristie Kerr, the overnight leader, stumbled to a 75 and led a group of four players at 141.

Kerr played her last 10 holes at five-over par and closed with a double-bogey at the par-four 18th.

The leaders, meanwhile, said they felt comfortable at 6,204-yard Locus Hill Country Club, which isn't like the courses in their native Korea.

"We have a lot of mountain courses," said Mi Hyun Kim, a 30-year-old eight- time winner on the LPGA Tour. "A lot of up and down. But this is not like that. This is kind of flat."

Flat and narrow, good for short hitters who can keep the ball in the fairway.

"I think I have a great short game. I'm not a big driver, but I think I have great shot. That's how I work," In-Kyung Kim, a 19-year-old rookie, said. "The greens are really small and tight. Also, the fairways are tight and the wind is blowing. I think I'm pretty comfortable with this golf course."

The younger Kim had six birdies during a nine-hole stretch from No. 4 and was bogey-free until dropping a shot at the 18th, where she three-putted from 35 feet.

Her birdies included three putts from 20 feet or longer.

"Hopefully, tomorrow, I can make a [few] more birdies," said Kim, whose best finish in her rookie season is a tie for fourth place at the LPGA Corning Classic.

Mi Hyun Kim had five birdies and a bogey for her 68. She would have held the lead alone if not for a sub-par tee shot with a rescue club at the par-three fifth.

Kim knocked her the ball 30 feet past the hole, then three-putted for bogey.

"Almost every hole, I hit the fairway. My second shot almost hit every green. So I feel very comfortable with my swing and short game," she said. "I have a lot of confidence."

The cut line fell at four-over 148 with 72 players making the weekend. Among those who missed the cut were Birdie Kim, Laura Diaz, Juli Inkster and Julieta Granada.

LPGA Tour: Kerr leads Wegmans LPGA

Pittsford, NY (Sports Network) - Cristie Kerr fired a six-under-par 66 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Wegmans LPGA at Locust Hill Country Club.
Alena Sharp posted a five-under 67 and is alone in second place.
Suzann Pettersen, who won her first major title two weeks ago at the LPGA Championship, carded a four-under-par 68 and has sole possession of third place.
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, SemGroup Championship winner Mi Hyun Kim and Ginn Open champion Brittany Lincicome are knotted in fourth place at three-under- par 69.
Kerr began her round on the back nine and flew out of the gate. She hit a nine-iron to 15 feet to set up birdie at the 10th and made it back-to-back birdies with a 25-footer at 11.
Kerr polished off three consecutive birdies when nine-iron approach at the 12th stopped three feet from the hole.
The American star parred her next four holes then reached the par-five 17th green in two with a five-wood. She two-putted for the fourth birdie of her round.
Unfortunately, Kerr promptly gave the stroke back. She missed the green at the par-four 18th, but chipped to 10 feet to give herself a chance for par. Kerr missed the putt, but she regained her ground on her second nine.
At the par-four first, Kerr knocked a nine-iron to 12 feet and holed the birdie putt. She cooled off a bit with five pars in a row, but a late flurry got her to the top of the leaderboard.
Kerr hit a five-iron at the 171-yard, par-three seventh and knocked her tee ball to 12 feet. She sank that putt and kicked in a three-footer for birdie at the eighth to move past Sharp.
Kerr has yet to win this season on the LPGA Tour, but a change in equipment might have helped on Thursday. She is using a putter she bought in a pro shop in Korea and needed only 26 putts.