Sweden in control at Women's World Cup of Golf while Canada trails

Saturday, January 21st 2006, 12:49 pm

By: News On 6

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) _ Annika Sorenstam and Liselotte Neumann shot a 3-under 69 Saturday in alternate shot to give Sweden a three-stroke lead over South Korea after the second round at the Women's World Cup.

The Swedes are at 10-under 134 at the 6,385-yard, par-72 Gary Player Country Club.

Finland and Colombia, the only other teams to break par Saturday, also shot 69s. Both teams are tied for third at 6 under, one stroke behind South Korea.

Sorenstam got Sweden going on the ninth hole when she hit a 6-iron from 177 yards to within 4 feet of the hole. Neumann then made an easy putt for an eagle three.

South Korea's Meena Lee and Bo Bae Song birdied three of the first four holes, but their bogey on the ninth helped Sweden pick up three strokes.

``Annika hit such a great shot in on the ninth, so that was definitely a turning point,'' Neumann said. ``After that, we made four birdies coming in.''

Sorenstam, who was not at her best Saturday, hit into the water hazard on the par-3 fourth.

``Liselotte was wondering who she was playing with,'' Sorenstam said.

Song and Lee bogeyed the fifth and the ninth, and then added bogeys at 12 and 17.

``After the good start, we couldn't hit the fairways,'' Song said. ``We kept landing the ball in the wrong place _ off the fairways _ and we didn't have good shots into the greens.''

Finland and Colombia had four birdies and a bogey each, while Natalie Gulbis and Paula Creamer of the United States struggled to a 75 to finish at 1 under overall _ nine shots off the pace.

Defending champion Japan struggled again, with Ai Miyazato and Sakura Yokomine shooting a 74 to put them at 3 over.