INSIDE THE ROPES From Squaw Creek Country Club

Three more withdraw: Three more players withdrew from the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic on Wednesday -- Silvia Cavalleri, Heather Daly-Donofrio and Leslie Spalding. They were replaced by Lee Ann Walker-Cooper, Angie Rizzo and Nicole Dalkas.
Only two left: There are only two players remaining on the tournament's alternate list -- Laura Baugh and Luciana Bemvenuti.
Dream pairing: In Friday's first round of the tournament, the No. 1 and No. 3 players on the tour's money list, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak, will be paired together with a 12:30 p.m. tee time off the No. 10 tee. Defending champion Mi Hyun Kim will tee off at 9 a.m., also from the No. 10 tee.
International field: The Giant Eagle LPGA Classic has 54 international players in this year's field, including the top three on the LPGA's money list. Those three are Annika Sorenstam, Grace Park and Se Ri Pak. A 55th international player, Lucianna Bemvenutti of Chili, is still waiting on the alternates list to get into the tournament.
Rookies in field: Nine of the LPGA Tour's 24 rookies are playing in this week's tournament, including the tour's leader for Rookie of the Year honors -- Lorena Ochoa of Guadalajara, Mexico.
Birthday week: Three LPGA players in this week's field are celebrating birthdays this week. Hee-Won Han had her birthday on Monday, Jeong Jang on Tuesday and Laurel Kean will celebrate her birthday on Saturday.
Near ace: Fifth-year LPGA professional A.J. Eathorne of Alberta, Canada, just missed a hole-in-one Wednesday. Playing in the first round of the Cellular One Pro-Am, Eathorne almost aced the par-3, No. 9 hole. Her tee shot hit 6 inches in front of the pin, hopped over the hole and then backed up right over the hole stopping just 6 inches away. She has only had one career ace, that coming in 1999 during the Australian Ladies Masters.
-- Pete Mollica