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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Wie tees off from the 16th hole during the second round of the LPGA Championship golf tournament at Locust Hill Country Club in Pittsford, N.Y. on Saturday, June 8, 2013. (AP Photo/Gary Wiepert)
Michelle Wie shot a second-round 68 to put herself back in the hunt at the LPGA Championship on Saturday. She was at even par after a 68 to match not only her best round of the season, but best in six appearances at Locust Hill.
She credited her five-birdie, one-bogey round to being more patient and laying off her driver, which Wie blamed on costing most of her strokes a day earlier.
“I’m starting to understand this golf course a little more every year,” said Wie, who missed the cut last year at Locust Hill with a two-round total of 12-over 156.
“I’ve tried a lot of different things on this golf course over the past couple of years. And in some conditions, if you’re feeling great, (hitting driver) does work. But sometimes it will nip you in the butt if you get a little greedy here.”
At the very least, Wie is hoping she’s found a groove while attempting to build off last week, when she had a season-best ninth-place tie at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
“Shooting 68 today, really gives me the confidence,” she said.
Wie is six strokes behind leader Morgan Pressel.
Pressel slogged through rain and muck to take the lead Saturday. Next up is a 36-hole marathon Sunday.
“I run a lot,” Pressel said, laughing. “I’m in plenty good of enough shape to get through 36 holes tomorrow.”
She shot a 2-under 70 at Locust Hill to reach 6-under 138 — two shots ahead of the top-ranked Inbee Park and Chella Choi in the second LPGA Tour major of the season.
Park matched Wie’s score of 68 to give herself an opportunity to add to her three wins already this season, including the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April. Choi struggled with a 73 to relinquish her first-round lead.
