Sun, Jun 07, 2009 page18

• Pak, Pettersen lead State Farm Classic

  EARLY TO BED: Norway’s Suzann Pettersen said she was ‘pretty much going straight to bed’ following her round on Friday, as she had been experiencing flu symptoms

  • AFP
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  Five-time major champion Pak Se-ri, winless for nearly two years, fired a four-under par 68 on Friday to share the lead with Suzann Pettersen after two rounds of the LPGA State Farm Classic.

  Pak’s bogey-free round at the US$1.7 million event left her on 10-under 134 after 36 holes, level with Norway’s Pettersen, who fired a second-round 66 despite struggling with illness and considering pulling out of the event.

  Pak began on the back nine with six pars before birdies at the par-5 16th and par-4 18th. She birdied with par-5 sixth and the par-4 ninth to remain in a share of the lead as she was when the day began.

  

  Sun Young-yoo of South Korea walks past a gaggle of geese during the second round of the LPGA State Farm Classic tournament at Panther Creek Country Club on Friday in Springfield, Illinois.

  PHOTO: AFP

  “I still feel great about going out on the weekend,” Pak said. “I didn’t make any bogeys, which was a good thing. I was trying to not make a big mistake. I’ve been playing really well.”

  Pettersen birdied the par-3 second and fifth holes and added another at the par-5 sixth. She began the back nine with a birdie and consecutive birdies at the 15th and par-5 16th pushed her into the weekend without a bogey so far.

  “I didn’t start too well,” Pettersen said. “I woke up and thought I wasn’t going to play. I have a slight flu coming. I was in the fitness trailer for quite a while, trying to consider if I was going to play or not.”

  

  M.J. Hur of South Korea hits her second shot on the 11th hole on Friday during the second round of the LPGA State Farm Classic tournament at Panther Creek Country Club in Springfield, Illinois.

  PHOTO: AFP

  “After a few tablets and a few kind of hot towels on my back, I kind of felt a little bit better. I decided to give it a go. I’m glad I did that now. But I’m pretty much going straight to bed,” she said.

  Pak, who has not won since the 2007 Jamie Farr Classic, has a top finish of 13th in 10 starts this year.

  The 31-year-old is seeking her 25th LPGA triumph in the last tuneup before next week’s LPGA Championship.

  “My main focus for the next two days is going to be hitting as many fairways as I can,” Pak said. “The greens are firm so make sure you miss it the right place, easy for up and down. I’m glad I finished the last two days with a good score, but there are still two days to go.”

  One stroke off the pace were five players, including Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson, whose impressive 63 on Friday included seven birdies, three of them in a row starting at 13, and an eagle at the 16th.

  “Sometimes you just see the line,” Alfredsson said. “It comes easy to you when you look at it. When you do, you can strike the ball well.”

  Alfredsson fired a career-low 62 just three weeks ago.

  Also on 135 were South Korean Lee Jee-young , who shared the lead with Pak after the opening round, and Americans Kris Tamulis, Kristy McPherson and Moira Dunn. South Korean Shin Jiyai was eighth on 136.

  Taiwan’s Amy Hung fired a 66 to stand three off the pace with compatriots Yani Tseng and Teresa Lu a further four shots behind.

  Candie Kung of Taiwan failed to qualify after two rounds of 76.
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