Sorenstam leads despite storm

Annika Sorenstam battled the rain and competition to take lead into final round.
EVIAN, France (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam took a three-shot lead at the Evian Masters tournament Friday with an impressive 7-under 65 during a storm-filled third round.
In a hallmark display of cool, controlled play, the world No. 1 had seven birdies to take the lead from overnight leader Karen Stupples.
"What can I say? I hit a lot of good irons and was solid all day," said Sorenstam, who had five birdie putts from inside 4 feet. "Even when I made a mistake, I was able to make par and even a tap-in birdie at the 18th."
Heavy rain fell while the last group played the last two holes. Sorenstam drove into the left rough at the par-5 18th, got her 9-iron grabbed by the wet grass and only advanced the ball 74 yards.
With 170 yards to the pin, Sorenstam then took a 7-iron to 2 inches from the hole and tapped in her seventh birdie.
Overall, Sorenstam sits at 16-under. Stupples slipped to second after a 69. Mexico's Lorena Ochoa was third after carding a 67, and Australia's Wendy Doolan was fourth after a 69.
Familiar position
Sorenstam is trying for her fifth victory of the season in the $2.5 million tournament and her third Evian title. She has led 54 times going into the final round and won 35 of those times. She has finished outside the top three only twice.
Stupples, who made four birdies and a bogey, had a chip-in to birdie 17, then birdied the last to stay close to Sorenstam.
"I was very relieved the chip went in," Stupples said. "Then the birdie at 18 was really nice."
Ochoa had four birdies on the back nine to pull into contention.
"It'll be something special to play in the last group with Annika," Ochoa said.
Michelle Wie, plagued by the same putting problems as she had Thursday -- when she had five three-putts -- had four bogeys in five holes from the second and ended with a 76.
Stupid three-putt
"I had the stupidest three-putt in my life at the second hole," Wie said. "I saw the downhill but still putted hard."
The 14-year-old Wie's travails on the notoriously tricky Evian greens continued at the fourth when she came out of the right greenside bunker but missed the putt.
Three putts from over 24 feet at the fifth, then a missed chip from the fringe rough at the next had her 4-over for the day.
"I just had no confidence in my putting," Wie said. "These last two days I've had no feel."
Defending champion Juli Inkster had a 67 and is tied for 11th at 210.
Meg Mallon, who won the U.S. Women's Open and in Canada in her last two outings, had a 72 and is tied for 17th at 212, 12 shots off the pace.
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