Bowie Makes a Big Move

If Heather Bowie is going to hold on at the Women’s British Open for her first pro title, she’ll have to fend off Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak and Wendy Ward.

Bowie shot a six-under-par 66 Friday, giving her a two-stroke lead at eight-under 136 after two rounds at Lytham St. Annes, England.

Pak, a four-time major winner, shot a 69 and was tied with Ward in second place at 138.

Bowie’s best finish so far has been a tie for second in the Office Depot at El Caballero Country Club in April.

“I’m trying to respect the golf course but not be afraid,” she said. “It’s a fine line that I have to walk. If I can continue to walk it, I should be OK.”

Patricia Meunier Lebouc, winner of the first major of the year -- the Nabisco at Mission Hills -- also was at five-under 139 after a 69 as was Lorena Ochoa after her 65. She made seven birdies in a bogey-free round.

Bowie birdied five of the first 10 holes on the tricky links course and birdied the tough par-four 17th.

Hilary Lunke, the U.S. Open winner, was far off her game, failing to make the cut of three-over 147. She carded a 74 for an eight-over total of 152.

Sorenstam, four shots behind, and Webb, three back, had 72s on another day of surprisingly easy conditions for most of the round.

Ward ended Thursday tied for the lead with Webb at five under and had a disastrous start with bogeys at the first three holes.

But she responded with birdies at three of the next four holes and an eagle-three at the 11th, where she sent a three-wood to 30 feet and made the putt on the way to her 71.

Then there was Diana Luna. She shot a tournament-record 23-over 95, the highest score in the event since officials began keeping records 17 years ago. The previous worst was 92.

She shot a back-nine 55, including a 12 at the 14th hole and a 10 at the 18th -- both times after hitting into the sand.

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Tiger Woods’ eagle from a bunker on his first hole wasn’t nearly enough to close the big gap between himself and Buick Open leader Chris DiMarco, who is 13 under after an eight-under 64 in the rain-delayed second round at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Woods was five under through 15 holes and will be five strokes behind DiMarco today when he finishes the second round, which was delayed for five hours because of lightning and heavy rain and was later suspended by darkness.

Woods started the day three under -- 10 strokes behind DiMarco -- in his final tuneup before playing the PGA Championship in two weeks, his last chance this season to win a major.

David Sutherland and Paul Gow shot 67s and were two shots behind DiMarco, who finished his round in perfect conditions well before the weather delay.

Woods was lining up an 18-foot birdie putt at No. 4 when the weather alarm blared at Warwick Hills, forcing players to stop play and fans to seek shelter.

The PGA Tour decided to call for the delay because a storm was expected to reach the course within 15 minutes. However, it didn’t start to rain for about two hours.

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Bruce Fleisher tied a tournament record with a seven-under-par 64 in the first round of the Champions Tour’s FleetBoston Classic at Concord, Mass.

Fleisher, who has a one-stroke lead over Tom Purtzer, didn’t have a bogey in the round, which was delayed by rain for 50 minutes.