Pak maintains lead after second round

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Only Grace Park overcame the difficult conditions Saturday as Korean Se Ri Pak struggled but maintained the lead after the second round of the women's Nine Bridges Classic.

Pak carded a 4-over-par 76 Saturday, but has a three-shot lead over Park, who was the only player to break par in winds that reached 35 miles per hour and temperature in the low 40s.

The 25-year-old Pak had bogeys on holes No. 3, 7 and 18, and a double bogey on No. 4 when she three-putted from 20 feet.

"The hardest was putting. It was so difficult out there," Pak said. "It was very cold. The wind was so strong. I knew it was going to be a tough day today, with the weather so windy and cold, but when I actually played the round, it was even worse than I expected."

Pak had eight birdies Friday, but managed only one Saturday as she used her 8-iron on her second shot to get within one foot on the fifth hole. Pak claimed her fourth title of the year - second only to Sweden's Annika Sorenstam - two weeks ago, winning the Tournament of Champions in Alabama. It was the 17th career win for Pak, a native of Daejeon, Korea.

Park, seeking her third career victory and first since The Office Depot in January 2001, had three birdies and two bogeys for a 1-under 71 on Saturday.

"I told my caddie that it felt like I shot 64 out there," Park said about the conditions.

Mi Hyun Kim of Korea was 3-over Saturday and is one of four players tied for third, four strokes behind Pak.

Koreans have combined for seven LPGA wins this season. Last year;s tournament here was canceled following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Sorenstam was 1-over for the second straight day and it tied with Carin Koch and Danielle Ammaccapane. The 31-year-old from Sweden is looking to become the first player to win 10 LPGA Tour events in a season since Kathy Whitworth and Carol Mann both did it in 1968. She already is the first in 24 years to win nine times.

Sorenstam was in contention two weeks ago at the Tournament of Champions but fell short in her bid for a fourth consecutive LPGA Tour title. It also ended any hopes she had of setting a single-season record for victories.

On the brink of her fifth Player of the Year honor, Sorenstam needs to win the final four events to tie the record for titles in a season, established by Mickey Wright in 1963.

This tournament begins a three-week stay in Asia. It is followed by the World Ladies Match Play Championship in Narita, Japan and Mizuno Classic in Otsu-Shi, Shiga, Japan.