Safeway Classic - 2nd Round

Ai Miyazato leads by three strokes entering the final round of the Safeway Classic Presented by Coca-Cola.  Song-Hee Kim and Na Yeon Choi are tied for second at -8 while Jiyai Shin and Cristie Kerr are tied for fourth at -7.

Juli Inkster completed her round tied for second at -8 but was disqualified for using a training aid while waiting to play at the 10^th hole, according to USA Today.  She would have been in good position to become the oldest player ever to win an LPGA event.

Miyazato posted a 67 with outstanding iron play, setting up a bushel of birdie opportunities.  After playing the first 10 holes in -5, her only missteps were bogeys at 11 and 12.  At the latter, she recovered from two poor shots (a flier from a greenside bunker and a subsequent chunker from the rough) by chipping in to save a share of the lead from what could have been a disaster.  Ai played the final six holes in -2 to expand the margin to three.  Kim got in early with a bogeyless 64, which featured an eagle at the par-5 9^th.  Choi's 67 was marred by two bogeys down the stretch - at 13 and the short par-4 17^th.  Shin was making a great run, reaching -8 with birdies at 16 and 17, until she bogeyed the last.  Like Miyazato, Kerr stumbled early on the back with bogeys at 11 and 13 but she rallied late with birdies at 15 and 17.

Ji Young Oh matched Song-Hee's 64 by playing the final seven holes on the front nine in -7, going out in 30.  She stands at -6 tied for sixth with Stacy Lewis and the likewise-resurgent Jee Young Lee and Eun-Hee Ji.  If I'm going to use words like "resurgent", I have to mention the fact that Laura Davies is at -5 and tied for tenth place.  The cut was +3 and did away with defending champion M.J. Hur, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and Catriona Matthew.  After opening the event with a hope-raising 70, Dorothy Delasin posted 81 today to miss the cut for the 23^rd consecutive start - dating back to October 2008.  C'mon Dot - go get ‘em next week.  On the bright side, veteran Nicole Jeray made the cut on the number, only her second made cut since September 2007 covering 14 starts.

The loss of Inkster for Sunday's final round only slightly diminishes the excitement.  The current top five are all ranked in my Top 10 and are solid candidates in the race for Player of the Year, even the winless Song-Hee Kim.  Miyazato would gain a huge leg-up on everyone if she holds on for her fifth victory of the year but any other result would keep that race just as scrambled.  It should be fun to watch.