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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, July 4, 2009

Wie falls three behind in Farr


Advertiser Staff and News Services

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Michelle Wie made a double bogey on the 18th hole to fall three shots off the second-round lead.

TONY DEJAK | Associated Press

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Honolulu's Michelle Wie shot 2-under-par 69, three-putting for a double-bogey 7 on the final hole, and was three shots behind the co-leaders yesterday after the second round of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic at Sylvania, Ohio.

Wie, who was one shot back after an opening-round 65, was tied for seventh at 8-under 134.

Sarah Kemp shot a 63 and Laura Diaz a 67 to share the lead at 11-under 131. Kapalua's Morgan Pressel was one shot back after a 68. Seon Hwa Lee (63), Natalie Gulbis (65) and Jiyai Shin (67) were at 133.

Wie got to 10 under and a shot back of the leaders heading to the relatively easy par-5 closing hole. She was in prime position after two shots but her third ended up running just off the back of the green. Her chip ended up 10 feet away and she missed that and a 3-foot comebacker for a 7.

"A lot of things that shouldn't have happened happened on the last hole," Wie said. "I thought I had that first putt (for par), a little sloppy on the putt going back. But it's more ammunition for tomorrow."

Wie had birdies on the par-3 No. 2 and par-5 No. 7, but bogeyed the par-3 No. 8 to make the turn at 1-under 33.

She opened the back nine with consecutive birdies on Nos. 10 and 11, both par-4s, to go 3 under for the day. After three consecutive pars, she bogeyed the par-4 No. 15 after hitting her tee shot behind a tree. She got the shot back with a birdie at the par-4 No. 16.

Wie went to 10-under overall and one shot off the lead with a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 No. 17. She pitched from a bunker on her third shot, then after a bee was chased from her shoulder, made her birdie putt.

Wie needs to win the Farr to get into the field for next week's U.S. Women's Open at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa.

Winless in her past 168 LPGA Tour starts, Diaz sank a 12-foot birdie putt the final hole to cap her 67.

"I saw the scoreboard only once right away when we started," said Diaz, a two-time winner on tour. "But really, I haven't been in place to be looking at the scoreboard in the last several months, so I was really just trying to stay in my own world."

Kemp started early to post a low number, matching Lee for the best round of the day.

"My putter was amazing," said the Aussie, who was a rookie on tour a year ago. "I don't know how many putts I had, but I don't think it was many."

Pressel acknowledged that the tournament was there to be taken.

"It's a crowded leaderboard with very good players at the top," Pressel said. "It's going to take two more days of really good golf, and lots of birdies, to make it to the top."