LPGA Daniel slips, but shares lead

Beth Daniel ballooned to a 73, but still tied Annika Sorenstam for the top spot.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- Beth Daniel was 11 strokes worse than her opening round, but that was enough to get her in a tie for the 36-hole lead with defending champion Annika Sorenstam and Cristie Kerr at the LPGA Safeway Classic on Saturday.
Daniel's 10-under 62 on Friday tied the course record at the Columbia Edgewater Country Club, set by Sorenstam last year, and gave her a four-stroke lead.
"I didn't hit the ball nearly as well as I did yesterday, and I putted pretty poorly," Daniel said after the 73 left her at 9-under 135, tied with Sorenstam, who had a 67, and Kerr, who had a 69.
Daniel, an LPGA Hall of Fame member who became the tour's oldest winner in July at 46, didn't have a birdie, but she did eagle No. 7, a short par-5, hitting a 5-wood within 9 feet.
But on par-4 9th, she hit her drive left and was forced to punch out from-under a tree, then three-putted for a double bogey.
Sorenstam consistent
Sorenstam was consistent as she goes for her fifth win of the year.
"I thought 4-under was a good, solid round," Sorenstam said. "I three-putted twice yesterday but I didn't do that today."
Kerr was still fighting a cold but mixed five birdies with two bogeys in gaining a share of the lead.
"I'm a little worn out," Kerr said. "I didn't hit the ball nearly as well as I did yesterday."
Everybody was fighting the wind by early afternoon, along with temperatures in the mid-90s and plenty of early fall debris on the greens, including dead leaves, pine cones and dried branches full of needles from the towering Douglas firs and other evergreens lining the fairways.
Putt bounces into air
On No. 8, a par-3 nestled against a small lake, Daniel saw her putt jump nearly 6 inches in the air after it struck a whirling maple seed that landed right in her line as she started her birdie putt.
"It was a pretty tough day to play today, with the wind and all the stuff on the greens," Daniel said.
"With the big trees out there, it's hard to tell how much the wind is going to affect the ball. It's tough on a golf course like this that's very tight."
Soo-Yun Kang and Leta Lindley had 69s and were at 137, while Grace Park (72) was another stroke back.
Michelle Wie, the 13-year-old from Hawaii, shot a 72 and was at 3-under.