ST. ANDREWS, Scotland -- Juli Inkster moved into contention for the only major she hasn't won with a 5-under 68 Friday in the second round of the Women's British Open at the Old Course.
The American, on the LPGA Tour since 1978 and chasing her eighth major, improved 11 strokes on her 6-over 79 Thursday, finishing the first nine in 5-under 31.
Inkster reached the green at the 514-yard, par-5 fifth in two for an eagle putt. She made birdies at the first, sixth, ninth and 10th holes to get back to even par overall. But her run of birdies stopped and she dropped a stroke over the last eight holes to finish at 1-over 147.
Only tournament leader Lorena Ochoa's first-round 67 is better than Inkster's score.
Although Inkster was still seven strokes behind Ochoa, she improved her chances for the weekend. Plus, strong wind was forecast for those starting in the afternoon.
"It is just a different golf course out there today," Inkster said. "I'm kind of hoping we get a little wind out there this afternoon."
Inkster credited the accuracy of her drives for the low score.
"You can drive it anywhere and be conservative, but in order to make some birdies you have to drive it in the right spot, and today I did that," she said.
The 47-year-old Inkster squandered a chance to become the oldest winner of an LPGA Tour event last week when she led the Evian Masters in France by two after three rounds. She had three bogeys in the last five holes to finish in a tie for third behind winner Natalie Gulbis.
Defending champion Sherri Steinhauer, who has won this event three times, improved to 3 under after a 71 gave her a second-round score of 143.
"It was very calm on the outward holes and not very difficult," said Steinhauer, who picked up two shots on the outward nine, including a 50-foot birdie putt at the sixth. "I wish I could have taken a little more advantage."
Annika Sorenstam, who won the 2003 Women's British Open at Royal Lytham for one of her 10 majors, also improved to 3 under after a 71 that included four birdies.
"I thought I hit the ball beautifully today and had a lot of chances," said the Swede, who missed putts from 7 and 4 feet at the ninth and 12th holes to drop shots. "Those two would have been nice, but otherwise I was playing to my game plan."
In-bee Park of South Korea, who was tied for fourth at the U.S. Women's Open and is chasing her first tournament victory, collapsed from 4 under to 1 over in a stretch of five holes from the seventh to the 11th.
The championship is making history as the first women's pro event to be staged at St. Andrews, which is regarded as the home of golf.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Source: ESPN.com
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