McPherson, Kim beat wind to seize Kraft Nabisco lead

April 4, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) — The powerful desert wind that tore through the Coachella Valley on Friday blew a new set of players to the top of the leaderboard of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

The strong gusts made some players such as defending champion Lorena Ochoa lose their balance, sent a sharp palm frond into Angela Stanford’s ankle and frustrated Ji Young Oh by blowing her ball some 30 feet off the 18th green and into a lake, leading to a one-stroke penalty.

Stanford questioned whether the course was unplayable, but officials said they didn’t feel conditions got to that point.

Although the wind helped knock first-round leader Brittany Lincicome back a few shots, she was still in contention — and feeling fortunate.

“I survived,” Lincicome said after her round of 74, which was eight shots worse than her opening 66.

Kristy McPherson and Christina Kim teed off well before the wind started gusting and jumped into the lead at 6-under 138 at the halfway point of the LPGA Tour’s first major of the season.

McPherson shot a 70, and Kim had a 69 at Mission Hills, where palm trees swayed and flags snapped in the breeze.

McPherson was two shots off the lead Thursday, while Kim was three back.

Cristie Kerr also teed off in the morning and shot a 68 to finish at 5 under.

Lincicome was at 4 under, while Jimin Kang and Lindsey Wright were at 3 under.

Stanford shot a 75, leaving her at 2 under with Paula Creamer, Helen Alfredsson and Pat Hurst, who won here in 1998. Michelle Wie struggled with her putting and shot an 81 to finish at 8 over and make the cut by a stroke.

The top-ranked Ochoa shot her second straight 73 and was tied for 26th at 2 over. The Mexican star was 3 under for her round through 11 holes before finishing with four bogeys.

“It was close to being really, really good, but the way I finished, I am very disappointed,” Ochoa said. “I know they are playing tough, but I just missed a few important chances. It was a tough day. If you see the big picture, I’m happy with my score.”

The slightly built Ochoa said the wind affected “everything.”

Ochoa said the wind contributed to her bogey on the par-4 16. Her 139-yard approach shot through a crosswind she estimated at 24 mph fell short of the green and landed in the right rough.

LPGA Tour official Doug Brecht said the wind built through the afternoon, from a constant 10-20 mph at noon to 20-30 mph from 2 p.m. on. He said it was 31 mph at 5 p.m.