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(Sports Network) - Michelle Wie's first event as a member of the LPGA Tour has a chance to be a memorable one.
The 19-year-old Wie shot a two-under 70 on Friday and joined overnight leader Angela Stanford, who managed a 71, in a tie for first place at eight-under 136 after the second round of the SBS Open at Turtle Bay.
Wie gained her LPGA Tour card via Q School in December and is in great shape with one round to go. After several years of disappointment, injury and missed cuts, Wie can finally pick up her elusive first professional win on Saturday.
"I just forgot everything about the past. When I started the season, it's like a new start to my career," said Wie. "So I just play without any kind of pressure, just play out there, try to have fun and try to be patient out there."
This may be a great spot for Wie, who grew up an hour away from Turtle Bay Resort. She tied for second here as a 15-year-old amateur in 2005 and even played a U.S. Open qualifier on the course.
Standing in her way is a formidable co-leader. Stanford is a three-time winner on tour, including two last season, and is eighth in the Rolex World Rankings.
"I'm a big believer in you learn how to win, but she's a little different in that she's such a great talent," said Stanford of her fellow co-leader. "So the curve for her gets smaller because she's so talented. And you know, I think there are ways to win a golf tournament and there's certain things you have to do to win. Well, she makes up for what she doesn't know with her talent."
Heavy wind greeted the players on Friday, but local knowledge might have helped Wie.
She began on the 10th tee Friday and immediately rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt. Wie played solid, par golf over her next six holes, but found trouble at 17. Wie three-putted from 50 feet for a bogey, but wasted little time in erasing the miscue.
At the par-four second, Wie hit a terrible drive and did all she could to get a five-wood near the putting surface. The 19-year-old chipped in from 35 feet out for an unlikely birdie.
"I mean all day today I was hitting such good shots and such good putts and didn't really get in the hole, and finally it left the door open, so it felt really refreshing," said Wie of her fortune on two.
That chip-in birdie sparked a good run for Wie. She sank a nine-foot birdie putt at the par-five third and made another long birdie putt for three in a row at No. 4.
Wie definitely had her flat stick going during the round, but the putter let her down late.
At the seventh, Wie missed a short birdie effort. On her last hole, the ninth, Wie three-putted from 45 feet for a final bogey that cost her sole possession of the second-round lead.
"It's hard putting in the wind," acknowledged Wie. "When the ball's chasing you, you can't really grind your club. So I think I'm going to practice that, try to get that more comfortable."
Stanford had a much less interesting round than Wie. She hit a wedge to six feet to set up a birdie at the third and that was her only birdie of the round.
Angela Park fired a four-under 68 and is alone in third at minus-seven. Momoko Ueda managed a one-under 71 and is fourth at five-under 139.
Stacy Lewis (70), Vicky Hurst (71), reigning LPGA Champion Yani Tseng (75) and Brittany Lang (70) are knotted in fifth place at three-under 141. Ai Miyazato's two-under 70 got her to minus-two for the championship.
The 36-hole cut came at six-over 150 and Se Ri Pak (153) and Liselotte Neumann (153) missed the mark.
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