EVIAN, France - Bradenton's Paula Creamer is tied with Christina Kim for the lead at the Evian Masters after each shot 4-under 68 during the second round Thursday.
Creamer and Kim share the lead at 8-under 136. Annika Sorenstam stood alone in second at 6 under, with Laura Davies and Carin Koch another stroke back.
Michelle Wie rebounded from her poor first round with a 70, but remained nine shots back at 1 over. The teenage phenom opened with a 3-over 75.
Davies shot 70 and Koch carded 73. Lorena Ochoa had a 69 and Carrie Webb shot 70, putting them four strokes behind.
The 18-year-old Creamer made seven birdies and had three bogeys, while Kim had five birdies. Both hope to qualify for the U.S. Solheim Cup squad, which is picked Aug. 28. Ten players qualify on points, and two are captain's picks.
Kim is fifth in the points standings and Creamer is 13th.
"I've wanted to be in the Solheim from before I hit my first ball as a pro," Creamer said.
PGA TOUR: Ben Crane's 8-under 62 made him the clubhouse leader during the first round of the US Bank Championship when play was suspended for the day after a second rain delay. Ninety-three golfers in the field of 156 were still on the course or waiting to tee off.
They were to resume the first round at 7 a.m. today, weather permitting, with the second round to start 4 hours later.
Kenny Perry, the 2003 winner, shot a 63 and Chris Smith, Jeff Sluman and Jerry Kelly all had 64s on the par-70 course that is one of the shortest on the PGA Tour, measuring just 6,759 yards.
PGA CHAMPIONS: Loren Roberts made his Champions Tour debut with a 1-over 72 at Royal Aberdeen in Scotland to take a one-shot lead after the first round.
Roberts overcame some uncharacteristic three-putts and the strong North Sea wind that blew across the course that kept anyone from breaking par.
He made six birdies to offset five bogeys and a double bogey at the par-4 ninth for a one-shot lead over Craig Stadler, Des Smyth and four others.
Roberts stole the show from Greg Norman in his senior debut. Norman, coming off a tie for 60th last week in the British Open at St. Andrews, struggled in the wind and shot 76.
PGA NATIONWIDE TOUR: Matt Bettencourt ripped off nine birdies in an 11-hole stretch and grabbed the first-round lead at Whistle Bear Golf Club. Bettencourt's 9-under 63 gave him a two-shot lead over Doug LaBelle and Jason Buha, each of whom matched Charles Warre's 2004 course record of 65.
Almost every putt fell for Bettencourt in an opening round where 10 players shot scores of 67 or better. In last year's opening round, nobody did better than 68.
JUNIOR AMATEUR: U.S. Women's Open runner-up Morgan Pressel lost in the third round, the second time in a month the 17-year-old Boca Raton native was beaten by an opponent's late chip.
Pressel, who finished second at the Women's Open on June 26 after Birdie Kim chipped in from a greenside bunker, was eliminated when Juliana Murcia Ortiz of Columbia chipped in from 40 feet on the first extra hole.
LPGA DENIES REQUEST: The LPGA turned down a 15-year-old girl who wanted a chance to qualify for a spot on the women's tour in 2006.
Carmen Bandea, who lives with her parents in suburban Duluth, Ga., asked outgoing LPGA commissioner Ty Votaw to waive the requirement that a golfer must be 18 to become a tour member.
In a letter, Votaw cited the teenager's lack of tournament experience for denying her request to enter qualifying school this fall.
RAIN DELAY: The first round of the Players' Championship of Europe, held in Alveslohe, Germany was washed out.
