Friday, July 28 2006 14:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Evian-Les-Bains(France): Michelle Wie, the 16-year-old American star, took another step towards a much-anticipated first professional victory with a second round 66 and a share of the halfway lead at the Evian Masters here on Thursday.

Australia's Karrie Webb, with a 68, and Mexican Lorena Ochoa, who shot 69, finished alongside Wie on nine under par 135.

They lead by a shot from Pak Se Ri with another South Korean, Kim Mi Hyun, in fifth place on seven under 137. World No.1 Annika Sorenstam had a second successive 69 and was tied for sixth on six under 138.

Wie, runner-up last year, had an exquisite bogey-free round, and she felt she should have made more than her haul of six birdies that all came within the first 11 holes.

"After the 11th I still hit a lot of solid shots and could have made a couple of putts," said the teenager, who has not finished outside the top five in any of her four LPGA tournaments this year.

"But I was pleased overall with the round and it's nice to be right in there," she said. Wie made a storming start with birdies at the first, third and fourth all from close range and she added another at the long seventh in an outward half of 32. The second nine began with a brace of birdies she holed her longest putt of the day from 30-feet at the 11th.

But she admitted she got lucky on the par five 18th, the hole where she made eagle three on her first round 69. Her drive hit a tree but bounced back out towards the fairway. "I was fortunate to get the right bounce, and did think of going for the green (over a burn). But I decided to play safe and lay up," she said.



Ochoa, the leading player with two wins this season on the LPGA Tour, also made the turn in 32 with four birdies, but dropped shots at the 12th, 14th and 15th, before hitting back with gains at the 16th and 18th.

Webb had an even better outward half of 31 that concluded with an eagle three at the long ninth and she moved to 11 under par and the outright lead with a birdie at the tenth. But she hit a poor drive and then three-putted for a double-bogey six at the 13th and dropped another shot via a bunker at the 16th before making a six-foot putt for birdie at the last.

It's been a remarkable comeback season for former world No.1. Webb, who won the first major of the year (Kraft Nabisco Championship) and added the Michelob ULTRA Classic in May.

"It's been more of a mental recovery," she said.

"I'd lost a little faith in my game, but now I'm trusting it again. I'm also having a lot more fun," she said.

Pak, who ended a long drought by winning a fifth career major at the McDonald's LPGA Championship last month, closed out her 68 with a birdie, while Kim, with two wins this year, had two birdies in her 71.

Sorenstam, aiming to become the first three-time winner, was a little disappointed. "I feel I'm swinging well enough but not getting anything out of it," said the Swede.

"But I'll go the range and see if I can work it out," she said.

Gwladys Nocera, the Ladies' European Tour No.1 from France, recovered from her disappointing opening 78 with a flawless 69. She birdied the first, 11th and 18th for three over par and a tie for 46th place.