Long Day Ahead at the Open

Annika Sorenstam could not have asked for a much better day in the U.S. Women’s Open.

She played solidly for an even-par 71 in the morning to keep a share of the lead, then spent the afternoon resting in her quarters as Pat Hurst, Michelle Wie and the rest of her challengers battled the blustery conditions at Newport (R.I.) Country Club, knowing they would have a short night before the marathon finish.

“I’m sure she’s home just getting out of the covers from a nice, two-hour nap,” Juli Inkster said after scrapping around the course for more than five hours in the sun for a one-under 70.

They’ll need plenty of rest for the 36-hole effort today, the first in 16 years at the U.S. Women’s Open.

Sorenstam was in the best shape of all -- physically, for sure -- by finishing her round about 1 p.m. at two-under 140. Hurst had consecutive bogeys in the middle of her round, then steadied herself with a birdie on the par-five 16th for a 71 to tie for the lead.

Two shots behind was a group that included Wie, who had a wild day.

Tied for the lead, Wie took two shots to get out of a muddy bunker and made double bogey on the 17th hole. However, the 16-year-old escaped with an amazing par on No. 7 by taking an unplayable lie from the shrubs, blasting an eight-iron out of the muck and over a ravine to within 10 feet, and making the putt.

“It was all in all a very good hole,” she said. “Right after it went in the hole, I laughed at myself. It was pretty ridiculous.”

Wie wound up with a hard-earned 72 and was at even-par 142, along with 19-year-old amateur Jane Park (73) of UCLA and Shi Hyun Ahn (71). Inkster, a two-time Women’s Open champion, was another shot back at 143 in a group that included Se Ri Pak (74) and 19-year-old Paula Creamer (72).

There are 17 players within five shots of Sorenstam and Hurst.

“It’s going to be a grind,” Inkster said of the 36-hole finale. “You’ve just got to hang tough and try not to blow a gasket out there.”

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J.J. Henry shot a seven-under 63 to take a two-shot lead over Harrison Frazar after three rounds of the Buick Championship at Cromwell, Conn. Henry is at 11-under 199 for his first 54-hole lead since joining the PGA Tour in 2000.... David Edwards missed the last three greens in regulation but still shot a two-under 70 and held a one-stroke lead over Brad Bryant in the Greater Kansas City Golf Classic at Overland Park, Kan. Edwards, looking for his first Champions Tour victory, is at 11-under 133.