LPGA TOUR Kane, Matthew tied at Corning

Golfers stay focused amidst the Annika Sorenstam media frenzy at Colonial.
CORNING, N.Y. (AP) -- With a lot of rain in the forecast, Catriona Matthew and Lorie Kane made a bee line to where they wanted to be -- in the lead at the LPGA Corning Classic.
Matthew shot an 8-under 64 on Friday, one shot better than Kane, and both finished the second round at 12-under 132, one stroke ahead of Meg Mallon, who had a 66.
Helen Alfredsson, Juli Inkster and Karen Stupples were tied for fourth at 10-under, while Hall of Famer Beth Daniel was at 135.
Two-time Corning champion Rosie Jones, who began the day two shots off the lead, led a group of six at 136 that included Wendy Ward, who shot a tournament-record 7-under 29 on the front nine before faltering with bogeys on her last two holes.
Defending champion Laura Diaz had a 70 and was at 142, one stroke better than the cut.
Downhill
Kane tied for second in the season-opening Welch's-Fry's Championship in Arizona, but it's been downhill since as she's battled a sore hip and back. Two weeks ago, she finished in a tie for 38th at the Asahi Ryokuken International.
"It's been since Tucson that I've put myself in any type of situation to contend for a tournament," said Kane, who rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt at No. 18 to tie Matthew. "It just was one of those rounds. I'm happy that I'm being quite patient with myself on the golf course and just letting things happen. There's still two days left, but I'm having a lot of fun."
The sun actually poked through in midafternoon, and the players took advantage. Nine of the top 13 shot 67 or better over the narrow but forgiving 6,082-yard Corning Country Club course.
Ward was the hottest for a while, carding a birdie at No. 1 and chipping in from 27 yards for eagle at 2. After two pars, she made four straight birdies, narrowly missing another eagle at No. 5.
"I had visions of a 59," said Ward, who shares the LPGA record for lowest 54-hole winning score of 21-under 195 with Annika Sorenstam. "But on the back nine I just stumbled. It's a little bittersweet."
Although the expected showers never materialized, forecasters were predicting up to 1.5 inches of rain by tonight. That meant the third round most likely would be very soggy.
"I thought we were going to have rain today, so I was trying to get as low as I could yesterday," Kane said. "This afternoon was lucky that we didn't have any. I'm glad I have a low number."
Although Matthew is from Scotland, she wasn't looking forward to the gloom.
"I've played over here now for nine years," she said. "When I go home, I don't really play because the weather is too bad. Maybe I'm getting soft."