Sorenstam, Pak Are Pulling Away

1 Who’s hot: The same two stars who were sizzling throughout 2002, Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak. Sorenstam, who prevailed in last week’s Office Depot Championship in Tarzana, could easily be three for three, and Pak, who tied for second, showed a lot of courage by storming back after a poor start Friday. They’ve distanced themselves from former No. 1, Karrie Webb.

2 Who’s not: Solheim Cup teammates Kelli Kuehne (76th on the money list) and Emilee Klein (95th). Neither has a top-25 finish.... Dottie Pepper (92nd), trying to come back after a year lost to a shoulder injury.

3 Biggest surprises: Two fortysomethings, Beth Daniel and Betsy King. With two top-10 finishes, Daniel, 46, (12th on the money list) is making a strong bid for her seventh consecutive Solheim Cup appearance. King, 47, (14th), who tied for second in Tucson, could make the squad for the sixth time.

4 Biggest disappointments: Beth Bauer, last year’s rookie of the year, who has been unable to crack the top 25 in four starts. Her top challenger in 2002, Natalie Gulbis, hasn’t fared much better (28th at Tucson, missed cut at Phoenix, 48th at Rancho Mirage, 21st at Tarzana).... Webb, with only one top 10 in three appearances.

5 Best round: The six-under 66 posted by 13-year-old phenom Michelle Wie in the third round in Rancho Mirage. Remarkably enough, it could easily have been a 64 or 65; she missed several short putts on the back nine.... Rookie Lorena Ochoa’s 68 on the final day at Rancho Mirage. A day before, Ochoa had shot a 42 on the back nine.... Meg Mallon’s second-round 60 at Randolph Park in Tucson was impressive, but it came on a track that was yielding birdies by the bushels.

6 Worst round: Pak’s five-over 77 on the final day in Rancho Mirage. Positioned for a run at the leaders, Pak faltered with a back-nine 39, tying for 15th.... Another 77, by 1997 U.S. Women’s Open champion Alison Nicholas, in the final round at Tarzana, spoiling her hopes of recording her first top-five finish in three years.

7 Best shot under pressure: Pak’s 45-foot putt to save par on the 17th hole at Phoenix. Pak, who had parked her three-wood into the water on the left side, was facing a charge from Grace Park. Pak closed it out with a birdie at 18.... France’s Patricia Meunier- Lebouc’s 18-foot putt from the fringe at the 13th hole in Rancho Mirage, helping her regain a lead over Sorenstam that she would not relinquish.... Sorenstam’s bogey putt on the 15th at Tarzana, allowing her to maintain a two-shot advantage.

8 Worst shot under pressure: Sorenstam’s tee shot at the par-three 14th in Rancho Mirage, which bounced off the rocks, resulting in her second consecutive bogey.... Pak’s second shot to the par-five 17th at Tarzana, which ended up over the green. She needed a birdie, at the very least, to stay in range of Sorenstam.

9 Coming attractions: The Nancy Lopez tournament in late April, which will feature Wie’s next appearance.... The McDonalds LPGA Championship June 5-8 in Wilmington, Del., the year’s second major. Pak will defend, with Sorenstam looking for her first title in nine attempts. Pak also won it in 1998.

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LPGA Money Leaders

N. Name Tournaments Money

1. Annika Sorenstam...3 $423,552

2. Patricia Meunier-Lebouc...4 299,046

3. Se Ri Pak...4 276,997

4. Lorena Ochoa...4 152,464

5. Grace Park...4 140,571

6. Laura Davies...4 139,505

7. Heather Bowie...4 136,447

8. Pat Hurst...4 120,222

9. Wendy Doolan...3 120,000

10. Michele Redman...4 100,669

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LPGA Tour at a Glance

RESULTS

*--* Date Tournament Winner Jan. 25-26 Conagra Foods Skins Game Karrie Webb March 13-16 Welch’s/Fry’s Championship Wendy Doolan March 20-23 PING Banner Health Se Ri Pak March 27-30 Kraft Nabisco Championship Patricia Meunier-Lebouc April 4-6 The Office Depot Championship Annika Sorenstam

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UPCOMING EVENTS

*--* Date Tournament Site April 17-19 Takefuji Classic Las Vegas CC, Las Vegas April 25-27 Chick-fil-A Charity Eagle’s Landing CC, Championship Stockbridge, Ga May 1-4 Michelob Light Open Kingsmill Resort & Spa, Williamsburg, Va May 8-11 Asahi Ryokuken Mt. Vintage Plantation GC, International North Augusta, S.C Championship May 22-25 Corning Classic Corning CC, Corning, N.Y May 30-June 1 Kellogg-Keebler Classic Stonebridge CC, Aurora, Ill June 5-8 McDonald’s LPGA DuPont CC, Wilmington, Del Championship

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-- Michael Arkush