EVIAN, France -- Michelle Wie is tied for the lead at a tournament again.
AP Photo/Patrick Gardin
Wie sank six birdies for a share of the lead Thursday.
Now she has to prove she can stay there.
Wie shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the Evian Masters on Thursday to share the lead with Lorena Ochoa and Karrie Webb. It's the fourth time the 16-year-old from Hawaii has had a share of the lead as a professional -- though she's still looking for her first victory.
"I just played more smart," said Wie, who opened with a first-round 69. "You never know what might happen."
Ochoa, the top money winner this season in women's golf, shot a 69 to get to 9-under 135. Webb had a 68 to go with her opening round 67 on the lakeside course in the Alpine foothills where temperatures reached 94 degrees.
Wie, who has never led a tournament outright, shared the lead after the first and third rounds of the U.S. Open in 2005. This year, she was in a tie for the lead at that tournament after the third round.
Wie described her game Thursday as "very solid." But it could have been even better.
"I felt I left a couple of shots out there," said Wie, who had six birdies. "Starting from the 12th hole I had so many birdie chances. I hit good putts and rolled it good but they just kind of slid by the hole. I could have made a couple more putts."
At the 13th, she slid a 3-foot birdie chance about a foot past the hole and settled for par.
Wie's tee shot on 18 hit a tree, but she got lucky when the ball bounced back into the fairway. But she missed a birdie putt and settled for another par.
AP Photo/Patrick Gardin
LPGA tour money leader Lorena Ochoa followed up a first-round 66 with a 69 on Thursday for a share of the lead.
"Today I hit driver left and was fortunate enough to get a good bounce but it was in that kind of weird lie, with weird grass," Wie said. "I would have hit a 5-wood over the water but I didn't think it was worth it, so I laid up."
Ochoa had three bogeys on the back nine, but also had six birdies.
"I think I am in a good position for the weekend," she said. "I did struggle a bit on the back nine with three bogeys. That was tough but I ended up making two birdies on the last three holes."
Webb, who was one stroke off the lead after the first round, double bogeyed the par-4 13th hole and dropped two other shots. But the Australian was able to limit the damage with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. She had six birdies, including one on the 18th.
"It was good to get one back after stumbling on a few holes," Webb said.
Se Ri Pak shot a 68 and was one shot back. Fellow South Korean Mi Hyun Kim was two behind after a 71. Defending champion Paula Creamer was three back with a 68. So was top-ranked Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 69.
AP Photo/Patrick Gardin
Wie sank six birdies for a share of the lead Thursday.
Now she has to prove she can stay there.
Wie shot a 6-under 66 in the second round of the Evian Masters on Thursday to share the lead with Lorena Ochoa and Karrie Webb. It's the fourth time the 16-year-old from Hawaii has had a share of the lead as a professional -- though she's still looking for her first victory.
"I just played more smart," said Wie, who opened with a first-round 69. "You never know what might happen."
Ochoa, the top money winner this season in women's golf, shot a 69 to get to 9-under 135. Webb had a 68 to go with her opening round 67 on the lakeside course in the Alpine foothills where temperatures reached 94 degrees.
Wie, who has never led a tournament outright, shared the lead after the first and third rounds of the U.S. Open in 2005. This year, she was in a tie for the lead at that tournament after the third round.
Wie described her game Thursday as "very solid." But it could have been even better.
"I felt I left a couple of shots out there," said Wie, who had six birdies. "Starting from the 12th hole I had so many birdie chances. I hit good putts and rolled it good but they just kind of slid by the hole. I could have made a couple more putts."
At the 13th, she slid a 3-foot birdie chance about a foot past the hole and settled for par.
Wie's tee shot on 18 hit a tree, but she got lucky when the ball bounced back into the fairway. But she missed a birdie putt and settled for another par.
AP Photo/Patrick Gardin
LPGA tour money leader Lorena Ochoa followed up a first-round 66 with a 69 on Thursday for a share of the lead.
"Today I hit driver left and was fortunate enough to get a good bounce but it was in that kind of weird lie, with weird grass," Wie said. "I would have hit a 5-wood over the water but I didn't think it was worth it, so I laid up."
Ochoa had three bogeys on the back nine, but also had six birdies.
"I think I am in a good position for the weekend," she said. "I did struggle a bit on the back nine with three bogeys. That was tough but I ended up making two birdies on the last three holes."
Webb, who was one stroke off the lead after the first round, double bogeyed the par-4 13th hole and dropped two other shots. But the Australian was able to limit the damage with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. She had six birdies, including one on the 18th.
"It was good to get one back after stumbling on a few holes," Webb said.
Se Ri Pak shot a 68 and was one shot back. Fellow South Korean Mi Hyun Kim was two behind after a 71. Defending champion Paula Creamer was three back with a 68. So was top-ranked Annika Sorenstam, who carded a 69.
