Stupples extends lead in British

Karen Stupples, in the lead by three strokes after two rounds of the Women's British Open, was talking about missed opportunities Friday.

Stupples played a bogey-free round for the second straight day in Sunningdale, England, this time shooting a 2-under 70 that moved her to 9-under 135.

"It was a bit frustrating at times because I had a couple of opportunities, one on 9 and one on 10, to make birdie," Stupples said. "I felt like I hit really good putts, but they just didn't go in the hole.

"The one on 10 was like a dagger to my heart because it totally did a horseshoe round the hole."

With the sun shining on Sunningdale's Old Course and little wind to trouble the early starters, Stupples recorded two birdies to go with 16 pars. She fired a 7-wood to the back of the green at the first and made a two-putt birdie. She rolled in a "perfect" 40-foot birdie putt at No. 17 after coming up short with her second shot.

Stupples, who also held the lead midway through last week's Evian Masters before fading and finishing fourth, completed her round long before defending champion Annika Sorenstam started.

Sorenstam moved within two strokes of the lead with three early birdies, but she faltered late, with two bogeys and zero birdies in the second half of her round. Sorenstam settled for a 1-under 71 that left her tied for fifth at 5 under, four strokes behind leader Stupples.

"I missed fairways, I missed greens," Sorenstam said. "Luckily, I chipped really well. I made a good bunker shot at the last and made some good putts. But it was the long game, I couldn't keep it in play.

"I still shot under par, so I have to look on the bright side. I lost a little ground, but then again I'm right there. There's two more days. It's not the end of the world by any means."

Beth Daniel (69) and South Korea's Jeong Jang (68) and Seol-An Jeon (69) are tied for second at 6-under 138.

Of the chasing pack, Daniel and Betsy King raised a flag for the veterans. Jang and Jeon maintained impressive performances by South Koreans on the course. At Sunningdale three years ago, Se Ri Pak won the British Open title and Mi Hyun Kim placed second.

King, who has won six majors in her 27-year years on tour, made her second straight 70 and is 4 under. She was threatening the lead at 7 under through 14 holes, bogeyed three of the last four.