Arizona maintains lead; two golfers tied for individual lead

<br>AUBURN, Wash. (AP) _ Georgia junior Summer Sirmons ended her day with a 30-foot birdie putt for a 4-under-par 68 and a share of the lead after Wednesday's second round of the NCAA Division I women's

Thursday, May 23rd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

AUBURN, Wash. (AP) _ Georgia junior Summer Sirmons ended her day with a 30-foot birdie putt for a 4-under-par 68 and a share of the lead after Wednesday's second round of the NCAA Division I women's golf championship.

Sirmons had three birdies, a bogey and an eagle on the back nine for a two-day total of 137 to share the top spot with first-round leader Virada Nirapathpongporn of Duke, who shot a 69 Wednesday.

Arizona sophomore Lorena Ochoa, the tournament favorite, was three back at 140 after shooting a 69.

Ochoa helped Arizona retain the team lead at 581. Duke was in second place at 587. Defending team champion Georgia and Oklahoma were at 588.

Tulsa was at 599, tied for 13th, and Oklahoma State was tied for 19th with a 602 total.

Sirmons was even on the day through 10 holes. She eagled the par-5 14th hole, hitting a 7-iron from 143 yards out, then sank her long putt on No. 18.

Nirapathpongporn, who shot a bogey-free 68 to take the first-round lead Tuesday, was a bit more erratic Wednesday, with six birdies and three bogeys on the par-72, 6,273-yard Washington National Golf Course. She had three bogeys and just one birdie through her first five holes but shot five birdies the rest of the way.

All four Arizona golfers shot 73s or better Tuesday, but that changed Wednesday. Mar Garcia followed her opening 71 with an 81. Christina Baena, 1 over after one round, shot a 7-over 79.