MISSION HILLS, California, 27 March 2005 — World No. 1 Annika Sorenstam grabbed a share of the lead with American Rosie Jones after the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Rancho Mirage on Friday.

Swede Sorenstam fired a three-under-par 69 to join Jones (70), one of three players who had been tied for the lead overnight, on five-under 139 in the first women’s major of the season.

One stroke adrift in third place was Kim Mi-Hyun (71). Kim’s fellow South Korean, defending champion Grace Park, and American youngster Reilley Rankin carded 68s to share fourth spot on three-under 141.

Michelle Wie spoiled her round when she went out of bounds and double-bogeyed the par-four 16th. The 15-year-old Hawaiian amateur finished with a 74 for 144.

Twice former winner Sorenstam arrived here as a firm favorite to make it five victories in a row on the LPGA Tour, and a round highlighted by a run of five birdies in six holes from the seventh shortened the odds.

Sorenstam made a sluggish start with a three-putt bogey at the first. She transformed her round with her string of birdies from the seventh, which included a holed bunker shot for a two at the par-three eighth. Jones had five birdies, including one at the 18th from seven feet, and was also delighted with her start as she chased a first major at the age of 45.

Players Championship second round washed out by rainPonte Vedra Beach, Florida, Tornado warnings, thunderstorms and steady rain washed away the second round of The Players Championship on Friday as bad weather continued to plague the PGA Tour.

With forecasts predicting more unsettled weather PGA tournament director Mark Russell said he would leave all options open to get 72 holes completed.

Twice in the last five years rain has forced the tournament, considered golf’s fifth major, into a Monday finish. Only a handful of the early starters ventured out on to the TPC Stadium course before the horn sounded to call them back to the clubhouse. There was no change at the top of the leaderboard, with former US Open champion Steve Jones holding a one-stroke advantage over Britain’s Lee Westwood and Americans Fred Funk and Zach Johnson.

Seven of the 13 US PGA Tour events this season have been affected by rain, wind or fog.

The worst conditions came at last month’s Nissan Open in Los Angeles, where Australian Adam Scott won a sudden-death playoff against Chad Campbell to become the first PGA Tour winner in nine years to be crowned champion after 36 holes.

Thaworn Clings On to

Lead in Jakarta

Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant remained the sole leader at the completion of the second round of the million-dollar Enjoy Jakarta Standard Chartered Indonesia Open yesterday.

A total of 64 players returned this morning to finish their rounds at the par-70 Cengkareng Golf Club but another weather interruption meant that they only resumed play at 11am local time.

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat was the biggest mover, firing two birdies in his remaining three holes for a second successive seven-under-par 65, which put him on 10-under-par for the event. Mamat, the Indian Open champion, is four behind the leader.

Asian Tour stalwart Thaworn heads the pack on 14-under-par 126, one stroke ahead of Belgian Nicolas Colsaerts, who like the Thai, was amongst the lucky ones who completed their second rounds on Friday.

Irishman Michael Hoey signed for a 68 to also finish on 10-under-par alongside Mamat in joint third place while India’s Arjun Atwal was a further stroke back after completing his second round with a 69.

Chris Williams of South Africa, Indian rookie Shiv Kapur, Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin and Australian duo Adam Fraser and Terry Pilkadaris were tied fifth with Atwal on 131.

The tournament’s top draw, Colin Montgomerie of Scotland, completed his second round in 69 but his two-day total of 136 was good only for a share of 41st place, a massive 10 shots behind Thaworn.