Pak Still in Front but Trying Not to Get Ahead of Herself

Se Ri Pak, who won four LPGA tournaments in 1998 but has struggled this year, fired a solid if unspectacular two-under-par 69 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Absecon, N.J.

Still, she insists she won’t think about winning until she completes her final round in the 54-hole tournament today.

“No matter what, I don’t want to be thinking, ‘If I make this, I might win.’ I don’t want to do that,” she said, and reiterated that she wanted to give the trophy to her dad on Father’s Day.

On Saturday, she took care of business. It wasn’t the record-breaking 63 she shot a day earlier, but it was good enough.

She rallied after a double bogey on No. 6 at Seaview Marriott Resort course, carding four birdies en route to a two-day total of 10-under 132 heading into the final round.

Juli Inkster, whose round of 68 and two-day total of 134 left her two off the lead, birdied two of her first four holes and was tied with Pak at eight under at one point.

But Inkster bogeyed consecutive holes on the back nine and couldn’t keep pace.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam, who set an LPGA record last year with a 17-under 196, shot a 65 and was five shots behind.

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John Mahaffey had five birdies and an eagle in a five-under 67 and took a one-stroke lead over three others after two rounds of the $1.1-million Southwestern Bell Dominion seniors tournament at San Antonio.

Mahaffey was at 10-under 134 after two trips around the 6,835-yard course at The Dominion Country Club. Gil Morgan, who barely missed the course record with a 64, Hugh Baiocchi (68) and Bruce Fleisher (68) were tied at 135.