Usual suspect lurk behind surprise leaders

American Diana D’Alessio and South Korea’s Jin-Joo Hong were the shock three-shot leaders on seven under par at Friday’s halfway stage of the Evian Masters in France.

There were a couple of two-time former winners in Annika Sorenstam and England’s Laura Davies among the close challengers. Swede Sorenstam had a 69 and was tied for third on four under as she continued her comeback from injury, while Davies, the champion in 1995 and 1996, had a solid 70 and was joint sixth another shot back on three under.

Davies scarred her card with a double bogey at the 10th where she unluckily found her tee shot was out of bounds.

“Basically, I was on the course but there was a white post to mark out of bounds and so I had to accept it,” she said after a four-birdie round.

Sorenstam, the winner in 2000 and 2002, has only played seven tournaments this year due to back and neck injuries and has lost her world number one ranking to Mexico’s Lorena Ochoa, who was on two under after a 70. But the Swede showed her class and determination with a four-birdie round.

“It has been very frustrating, but this is a little bit better,” said the 36-year-old, who is bidding to become the first three-time winner.

“Slowly but surely I feel I am getting back there. I would say my game is about 85%, but there were times when it was 100% today.”

Michelle Wie continued her comeback bid from her wrist injury with a 71 – her first sub-par score in a tournament since the final-round 68 that helped her finish joint second here last year. She was on level par and still within striking distance in a tie for 28th.

“I’m very happy,” said the youngster, who had a recurrence of the wrist problem and pulled out of the US Open just four weeks ago when she stood 17 over par after just 27 holes.

“My first sub-par score this year feels like a big breakthrough and it’s good to get that out of the system.

“I had one stupid hole but the birdie run (from the eighth to the 10th) gave me a lot of confidence. All I need now is to hole a few more putts and I’ll be right back in there.”

D’Alessio, who has never won in seven years on tour, shot a flawless 68, while Hong, who was a shock winner of the LPGA tournament in Korea at the end of last year, had a 70.