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.
"I think I'm in a little better mood today than I was yesterday," Sorenstam admitted. "I think I'm playing steady golf. You always feel better when you finish up with a birdie."
Women's World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa shot a two-under 70 in round two to move into a tie for 14th at two-under-par 142. She stands alongside defending champion Karrie Webb (72) and eight others.
Michelle Wie posted a 71 to get to even-par 144, where she is tied for 28th. This is Wie's first appearance since withdrawing from the U.S. Women's Open with a wrist injury.
D'Alessio started round two the same way she opened the tournament, with a birdie on the first at Evian Masters Golf Club. She parred three in a row before sinking a 12-foot birdie try on the fifth that got her to minus-five.
The 32-year-old parred five straight around the turn. D'Alessio, who bogeyed No. 11 on Thursday, converted a 25-foot birdie putt on that hole Friday.
She moved to seven-under with a birdie at the par-five 15th from six feet out. D'Alessio parred the final three holes to cap a bogey-free round.
"I think I played quite solidly," said D'Alessio. "I hit the ball well. I don't know how many greens I hit, maybe 15 or 16, and holed a few putts."
Hong, who won the KOLON-Hana Bank Championship last October, birdied the fifth for the second straight day to get to minus-six. She turned at seven-under after a 12-foot birdie putt on the ninth.
However, Hong tripped to a three-putt bogey on 10. She atoned for that mistake with a birdie at the 11th. Hong gave another stroke back as she bogeyed the 13th. She got that shot back as she drained a 30-foot birdie effort at 16 that gave her a share of the lead.
"My short game and putting were pretty good today," Hong said. "That's why I made a lot of par saves and when I had a chance to birdie, I made those."
Momoko Ueda fired the low round of the day with a five-under 67. That moved her into a share of sixth at three-under-par 141. She stands alongside Kyeong Bae, Linda Wessberg, Laura Davies, Natalie Gulbis, Sophie Gustafson, Juli Inkster and Mi Hyun Kim.
Pat Hurst and Eun Hee Ji, who both shared the opening-round lead with Lincicome, struggled to rounds four-over 76. They are part of the group tied for 14th at minus-two.
The cut line fell at six-over-par 150 with 72 players advancing to the final two rounds. Among the 18 players that were cut were Carin Koch (151), Julieta Granada (153), Birdie Kim (155) and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc (159).