IRVING, Texas – Natalie Gulbis plays with tape wrapped around her achy left wrist. She has an appointment with a specialist next week to finally figure out what is causing the pain she has dealt with for much of the season.

In the meantime, Gulbis is contending for her first LPGA Tour victory in seven years.

Gulbis was tied with Texan Stacy Lewis at 7-under 135, putting the Americans a stroke behind leaders Meena Lee of South Korea and Caroline Masson of Germany after two rounds in the North Texas LPGA Shootout.

With a 65 on Friday, Gulbis had her first sub-70 round this year.

“I haven’t played a lot this year, and I haven’t played very well in the events I’ve played in, so it felt really good to get a good round in the 60s and to get around making some birdies,” Gulbis said. “It felt more like how I played at the end of last year, which I hadn’t seen yet this year.”

Masson, who led after the first two rounds of the inaugural North Texas event last year before tying for 15th, had five birdies and a bogey for her second 67.

Lewis, the No. 3 player in the world, had a bogey-free 64 to match Lee for the best second-round score at Las Colinas Country Club. Lewis had four consecutive birdies before finishing with seven straight pars, and Lee played her first nine holes – the back nine – without a par.

“I didn’t really do anything really crazy different from yesterday other than I putted a lot better, but just played really solid,” said Lewis, who had her sixth runner-up finish last week in San Francisco since winning the Women’s British Open in August. ” I felt nice and relaxed out there, so it was a nice day.”

After her round, Lewis was headed to hit some balls with her 3-year-old nephew wearing a shirt that read, “My aunt is a better golfer than yours.”

In the last five LPGA events, Gulbis has a 67th-place finish while missing three cuts and withdrawing from the Hawaii tournament two weeks ago. The newlywed has completed only 17 rounds this season while dealing with the balky wrist.

“I had a really great offseason. I had a lot of time to work on my game and I felt really good coming into the season, and then I got hurt in like the second or third event of the year and took some time off, so that’s been a bummer,” Gulbis said. “But I had a really nice offseason, so I’ve been trying to fall back on the work that my coach and I did.”

Christiana Kim (69) was alone in fifth at 6 under, one stroke better than first-round leader Suzann Pettersen (71) and four other players. Pettersen had a birdie at the par-5 third hole before consecutive bogeys and then a steady string of pars until a closing birdie.

“I gave myself a lot of good looks for birdies, just couldn’t make much. Good conditions,” said Pettersen, in her only second tournament since missing a month with more back issues. “All good, no complaints.”

Also at 5 under were Julieta Granada (66), Dewi Claire Schreefel (66), Cristie Kerr (70) and Dori Carter (70).

Lee, who won the last of her two LPGA Tour titles in 2006, started Friday with an eagle-3 on the 510-yard 10th hole. She followed with a bogey, consecutive birdies, another bogey, three birdies in a row and then a bogey on the par-5 18th.

Her scorecard for the front nine was much cleaner, with birdies on Nos. 3-5 and only pars aside from that. She started the tournament Thursday with a double bogey on the very first hole.

“I’m happy to be done with the second round. I’m really happy,” said Lee, who has her best 36-hole score this season.

Top-ranked Inbee Park, the defending champ in North Texas, was 3 under after a 68.

Michelle Wie was 2 under after rounds of 67 and 73. She won the Hawaii tournament.

Lexi Thompson, the 19-year-old American playing for the first time since become a major champion the first weekend in April, followed her opening 70 with a 71 to reach 1 under.

Seventy-four players made the cut, which was 2 over. There will be a second cut after Saturday’s third round to the top 50 and ties.

Lorie Kane likely won’t have to worry about the second cut. She’s sitting at even par 142 thru 36 holes and sitting tied for 38th.

Sue Kim and Alena Sharp are 1-over and tied for 47th.

IRVING, Texas – Suzann Pettersen was prepared for a much longer break from LPGA Tour when she started having more back problems.

When she had similar pain a decade ago, she was out of action for about eight months.

But Pettersen missed only a month this time, and the 33-year-old Norwegian is already on top of the leaderboard again after a bogey-free 5-under 66 on Thursday in the first round of the North Texas LPGA Shootout.

“I feel good. I mean very patient. Just really just trying to enjoy being back,” Pettersen said. “I got to kind of pace myself a little bit. I can’t do too much early in the week. So I have a lot of spare time to fool around with. … I really can’t go hit balls on the range. I play whatever I need to play and then just try to give my body a little bit of break.”

Pettersen had a one-stroke lead over playing partner Cristie Kerr and Michelle Wie, Caroline Masson, Christina Kim, Cydney Clanton and Dori Carter.

Pettersen is playing her second tournament since withdrawing before the Kia Classic in late March, and being told rest was the way to heal her back. The world’s fourth-ranked player tied for 28th in San Francisco last week.

“It’s been a little bit achy early this week. So taking it a little bit careful,” she said. “But last week was nice to be back. It’s always tough when you come back from something like that when you’re so out of play. You’re not even close to be playing. And then next thing you know the pain is gone and you can start hitting balls, and to bring back the mentality straightaway.”

Pettersen took sole possession of the lead when she birdied Nos. 7 and 8, her 16th and 17th holes of the day at Las Colinas Country Club.

Among the 35 players under par was Juli Inkster, the 53-year-old with eight major victories who shot 69. The last of Inkster’s 31 career victories came in 2006.

Wie is playing with confidence and just trying to have fun, and had her 15th consecutive round of par or better. All have come in a stretch when she was the runner-up in the season’s first major, won at home in Hawaii for his first LPGA Tour victory in nearly four years and then had another top-10 finish last week in San Francisco, not far from alma mater Stanford.

“Definitely, my confidence level is up from last year, `’ said Wie, whose five top-10 finishes are already one more than she had in 26 tournaments all last season.

Canada’s Lorie Kane is sitting in a tie for 11th after a 2-under 69.

Other Canadians in the mix are Sue Kim (71) Alena Sharp (73) and Jennifer Kirby (76).

DALY CITY, Calif. – Poised and unflappable, Lydia Ko birdied the final hole for her third LPGA Tour victory and first as a professional, holding off Stacy Lewis and Jenny Shin on Sunday in the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

It went down to the final shots, and the teen made a 6-foot birdie putt moments before Lewis knocked in a 4-footer of her own to finish one stroke back.

“The 18th hole I knew how loud the claps were and that I needed to get close and give myself a birdie chance,” Ko said.

After beginning the day a stroke behind Lewis, Ko birdied three of her final four holes on the front nine on the way to a 3-under 69 and 12-under 276 total at Lake Merced.

Ko earned $270,000, celebrating on the 18th green three days after celebrating her 17th birthday at the first tee box with the gallery singing “Happy Birthday.”

Ko will move up two spots to No. 2 in the next world ranking.

She won the Canadian Women’s Open as an amateur the last two years and took the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in December in Thailand in her second start as a professional. She has six victories in pro events, also winning in Australia and New Zealand.

Lewis will head to her home state of Texas next week looking to build on a disappointing near miss in which she struggled all day with her short game.

“I knew she wasn’t going away. Lydia played great,” Lewis said. “Every time I hit a shot in there, she answered.”

Shin, still looking for her first tour win after her best finish this year, finished at 10-under 278 with a 68 over the 6,507-yard course.

Playing together for the fourth straight day, neither Ko nor Lewis hit any dazzling shots early. Ko’s second of three bogeys came on the 417-yard, par-4 seventh in which her tee shot hit a tree and dropped in the rough. Lewis’ 10-foot birdie putt on No. 9 lipped out.

Ko pulled into a first-place tie at 10 under as they made the turn on a picture-perfect spring day.

“The front nine, I did everything I wanted to do, the putts just didn’t go in,” Lewis said. “I expected her to do exactly what she did today. … She hit every shot she needed to make from 13 on in.”

The third-ranked Lewis had her sixth runner-up finish since winning the Women’s British Open in August.

Michelle Wie, who won last week in her home state of Hawaii, tied for ninth at 2 under. Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen shot a 70 finish at 3 over in her first event since last month after missing three tournaments with a back injury. Top-ranked Inbee Park tied for fourth at 6 under.

There were two holes-in-one Sunday: Jimin Kang on the 164-yard third and Dewi Claire Schreefel with a 7-iron on the par-3 157-yard 12th hole that earned her a $100,000 prize from China Trust Bank.

Canada’s Alena Sharp finished at 12-over 300 and tied for 68th.

The weather held for the final day after both fog and rain delays earlier in the tournament.

This event was the LPGA’s first in the Bay Area since the 2010 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Blackhawk in Danville.

DALY CITY, Calif. – Stacy Lewis matched 17-year-old playing partner Lydia Ko with birdies on Nos. 15 and 16 and added another on the 17th to take a one-stroke lead Saturday in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

The third-ranked Lewis and fourth-ranked Ko each shot 4-under 68 at Lake Merced. Winless since the Women’s British Open in August, Lewis had a 10-under 206 total.

Ko won the Canadian Women’s Open as an amateur the last two years and took the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in December in Thailand in her second start as a professional. She has five victories in pro events.

Jenny Shin was four strokes back at 6 under. She also shot 68.

Michelle Wie, the winner last week in Hawaii, was tied for 13th at 1 under after a 71.

Canada’s Alena Sharp was 6-over thru three rounds and tied for 48th.

DALY CITY, Calif. – Stacy Lewis overcame rain and hail Friday to take the second-round lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, shooting her second straight 3-under 69 at Lake Merced.

Winless since the Women’s British Open in August, the third-ranked Lewis had a one-stroke lead over 17-year-old playing partner Lydia Ko and first-round leader Karine Icher.

“We all went into the day knowing it would play hard,” said Lewis, who has five runner-up finishes since her victory at St. Andrews. “”It was a test of patience. I took it one shot at a time and wanted to get the ball into the hole as fast as I could. Fortunately, I was able to do that.”

Ko had a 71, and Icher followed her opening 66 with a 73.

Lewis and Ko played alongside Michelle Wie, dealing with heavy rain and hail that suspended play for just over an hour. Play resumed in steady drizzle that gave way to sunny afternoon conditions that helped several of the late starters.

Wie, the winner last week in Hawaii, was even par after her second 72.

The weather wavered between a slight mist and light shower before pounding the course just after noon, forcing the suspension at 12:36 p.m.

“I honestly thought we’d get it done,” Lewis said. “Then we got to seven and it just poured. We had to call off Lydia from her putt when it started to hail.”

Ko, who turned 17 on Thursday, thought she could get her putt in before being called off.

“I was crazy and out of my mind thinking about putting in the hail,” Ko said. “It started getting dark and I’m glad I was called off.”

After spending the delay eating chicken soup and playing cards, Ko returned to the course and sank the putt.

Icher was tied for the lead with Lewis at 5 under when the horn sounded.

“I ate a little and dried my clothes,” Icher said. “Rain delays are never fun but it happens. Being in the top five to start the tournament is pretty good, definitely my best start this year.”

Top-ranked Inbee Park, Mika Miyazato and Ilhee Lee were three strokes back at 3 under. Park had a 68 in the afternoon, Miyazato shot 69, and Lee had a 73.

“It was a very good putting day and I hit a lot of fairways,” Park said. “I got a little lucky with the weather. I only had to play in the rain for four holes.”

Miyazato finished before the delay.

“The golf course was more challenging,” Miyazato said. “I needed better course management.”

Second-ranked Suzann Pettersen, returning from a since back injury that sidelined her for three tournaments, was 2 under after a 72.

DALY CITY, Calif. – Karine Icher and her caddie husband, Fred, evaluated the conditions and course at challenging Lake Merced and decided on a Day 1 strategy: stay short of the pin and putt uphill.

The move worked beautifully and Icher delivered the most consistent performance on a day there weren’t many in the debut of the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

“I think it’s the key on this course,” Icher said. “It’s a tough golf course, especially with the wind and temperature. It gets so cold. You try to stay warm and try to catch the right wind and go with it and make some putts.”

The Frenchwoman birdied four of her first seven holes and finished with a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take the lead, two strokes ahead of Lydia Ko and several others. Afterward, Icher was off to pick up nearly 2-year-old daughter, Lola, from the tour’s children’s care.

The start was delayed two hours because of fog and play was suspended because of darkness with 24 players still on the course.

Icher had a bogey-free round and hit all but one green in regulation. Many struggled off the tee or with their putters on speedy, tricky greens on a cool day with plenty of wind and hovering fog not far off the Pacific Ocean.

The gallery sang “Happy Birthday” to Ko on her 17th birthday as she started from the first tee, and Ko came through with a 68 on a day she was also named among TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people. Ko’s group barely beat the horn for darkness.

“I wanted to finish today,” she said, acknowledging the birthday song was “kind of embarrassing” but much-appreciated.

Morgan Pressel birdied four of her first eight holes and was among the players sitting three strokes back at 69.

Mo Martin also shot a 69 after warming up four times before finally hitting her first tee shot following the fog delay.

Pressel, whose round began on the back nine, went to 4 under at the turn.

Top-ranked Inbee Park opened with a 73 in the $1.8 million event, while second-ranked Suzann Pettersen had a 70 in her first tournament since missing three events with a back injury. On the par-4 11th, a frustrated Pettersen made an 8-foot putt for triple-bogey to fall from 3 under to even par before bouncing back.

Michelle Wie, coming off her first win in nearly four years last week in her home state of Hawaii, finished at even-par 72.

Those who were still on the course will resume their rounds Friday morning, so many will have a quick turnaround after a short break.

Angela Stanford and Se Ri Pak withdrew Thursday, and neither have yet to provide a reason to tournament officials.

Canadians were not immune to the challenging opening-round conditions.

Alena Sharp opened with a 2-over 74.

Langley, B.C.’s Sue Kim had yet to compete her round, but was 2-over thru 15 holes of her first round.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. was 7-over thru her first 11 holes, but rallied with two birdies to get to 5-over.

Mississauga, Ont.’s Brogan McKinnon, playing in her first LPGA Tour event after Monday qualifying, was 6-over after a 78.

DALY CITY, Calif. – A beaming Michelle Wie explained her oversized visor as a necessary new addition after recently discovering wrinkles at age 24, then good-naturedly defended her unique, hunched-over putting stroke because Jack Nicklaus uses it.

Improved sun protection and short game aside, Wie is riding high after a comeback win in her home state of Hawaii last week. Now, she returns to familiar ground in the Bay Area looking to build on her first LPGA Tour victory in nearly four years when she competes in the inaugural Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic – just up the freeway from her alma mater, Stanford.

After arriving in town early Monday, Wie took a power nap before visiting the university, where she “wanted to hug every single freshman I saw.” She enjoyed a tour of new athletic facilities and is determined to represent Stanford well in her first visit back to San Francisco since graduating in the spring of 2012.

“I really believe we are a bunch of nerds, but at the same time we’re kinda cool,” Wie cracked Tuesday, referring to Stanford’s Nerd Nation theme. “It’s awesome. I’m so proud I’m a Stanford grad.”

Wie is thankful for all the friends and family who cheered her in Hawaii, and appreciates those who will be here this week ready to root her on again. Even her fellow golfers were quick to offer hugs and congratulations to the former teen phenom who had become starved for a win.

“It was unbelievable. I had so much fun,” Wie said. “I was just overwhelmed with emotion and overwhelmed with the support that I got, and all the love I received afterward.”

Even her competitors say it’s hard to root against Wie, so well-respected and liked on and off the golf course.

“She’s a smart girl. There aren’t very many girls who have completed four solid years at Stanford while playing on the LPGA Tour,” world No. 2 Suzann Pettersen said. “That takes a huge effort. For her to finally be able to concentrate on golf full-time has helped her golf, for sure. If you ask me, Michelle has underachieved. She has every shot in the bag.”

Pettersen herself hopes for a rally of sorts at Lake Merced Golf Club this week.

This marks her first start since she was forced to pull out of last month’s Kia Classic with a back injury and missed the past three events, with a prescription of rest to let herself heal.

“I’m here, which is a good sign. I never would have been here if I wasn’t feeling good,” Pettersen said. “I love the Bay Area. It’s definitely one of my favorite spots in America after New York.”

Pettersen’s pants were muddy after players went through practice rounds on a cool, blustery day not far from the Pacific Ocean.

World No. 1 Inbee Park is thrilled to sample the city’s fine cuisine.

“I love seafood, so everywhere I go here I get to experience seafood,” she said, after already trying the famous clam chowder.

The 24-year-old Wie returns to the Bay Area along with the LPGA, which hasn’t hosted an event in the region since the 2010 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club in suburban Danville.

Organizers and club officials hope the tournament is here to stay at Lake Merced Golf Club, which takes the big stage starting Thursday in the $1.8 million event.

In Kapolei, Hawaii, on Oahu, Wie rallied to beat Angela Stanford by two strokes to capture the LPGA LOTTE Championship. It marked her first win since 2010 and first since graduating from Stanford.

Also highlighting this week’s 144-player field on the 6,507-yard course are Stacy Lewis, Karrie Webb, Anna Nordqvist, 16-year-old Lydia Ko, and local fan favorites Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis and Juli Inkster. The Swinging Skirts is the first LPGA event in the United States led by a Taiwanese organization.

Many players came from the windy conditions in Hawaii to more of the same.

“I have layers for every condition,” Pettersen said with a grin.

Wie certainly knows what it can be like.

“I really feel like the Bay Area is my second hometown,” she said.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii -Michelle Wie rallied from four strokes back entering the day to shoot a 5-under 67 on Saturday and win the LPGA LOTTE Championship.

The 24-year-old American finished at 14-under 274 after coming into the final round trailing third-round leader Angela Stanford by four shots after Friday’s play. It was Wie’s third career victory on the LPGA Tour, and first since taking the CN Canadian Women’s Open in 2010.

And, Wie did it at home.

“I’m just having fun out there,” said Wie, who grew up in Honolulu. “I was out there and nervous. Every time I felt nervous out there, I was looking around, I felt there was no place I’d rather be.”

Stanford had her worst round of the tournament, shooting a 1-over 73 that put her at 12-under 276 and two shots behind Wie. Top-ranked Inbee Park finished third with an 11-under 277.

“Today, just didn’t make the putts that I’ve been making,” Stanford said. “I wasn’t hitting it great today. Just mis-clubbed a couple of times. Just didn’t make good decisions.”

Wie came to LOTTE and her home state of Hawaii coming off a runner-up finish two weeks ago in the Kraft Nabisco Championship when she closed with a 71 for her best position of the season.

“The highlight of this week was to come back home,” Wie said. “There wasn’t just one moment. From the first tee shot that I made to the last putt, the aloha that I felt from everyone was unbelievable.”

Stanford, the leader after the second and third rounds at breezy Ko Olina, came out strong with a birdie on the par-4 third hole to set herself up at 14-under early in the day. A bogey for Stanford and a birdie for Wie on the par-4 sixth closed the gap to within a stroke.

The par-3 eighth brought Stanford, Wie and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim to tie at 12 under.

A birdie for Wie on the par-3 12th gave her the outright lead, and she gave a small triumphant fist pump to the crowd. Another birdie on the par-5 13th put Wie two strokes ahead of two-day leader Stanford and three strokes ahead of Kim.

Stanford and Kim were unable to close that gap.

“She’s been playing great,” Stanford said. “She’s having a great year, so it was bound to happen. I just happened to be the one that caught the buzz saw.”

Trade winds continued to challenge golfers all day, gusting upward of 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

“Well, my caddy isn’t one for pep talks, but he gave a good one today,” Wie said. “He said, `It’s windy out there today, but play your game,’ and that’s really what I did. I didn’t try to force anything. I had a number in my head that I thought I needed to shoot, and I got it.

Kim came in fourth with 1-under 71 for 10-under 278 overall.

Jennifer Kirby dropped 13 spots Saturday after a 1-over par 73. The Paris, Ont. native finished tied for 13 at 2-over par 290 to pick up her second top 40 during her rookie season on tour.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Angela Stanford shot a 5-under 67 on Friday to open a four-stroke lead after three rounds of the LPGA LOTTE Championship in breezy Hawaii.

Stanford is 13 under going into the final round Saturday, ahead of Hyo Joo Kim and Michelle Wie at 9 under.

Stanford, a five-time LPGA Tour winner, finished the day with six birdies and one bogey, one day after taking the tournament lead with a 64 in the second round.

“I kind of found something (here) and for some reason I just have a really good feel on these greens,” Stanford said. “It’s been a lot fun watching the ball go in.”

Stanford birdied two holes in a row on the front nine, getting to 10 under with a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole. She moved to 13 under with birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 13.

Wie shot 2 under in the third round and is tied with the 18-year-old Kim, who shot a 69 on Friday.

Wind gusts were up to 20 mph across the fairways at Ko Olina Golf Club, a resort area in west Oahu, according to the National Weather Service.

“It’s hard,” Stanford said. “It’s hard for everyone – you just have to be patient.”

Wie, who played with Stanford, had bogeys on Nos. 7 and 18.

“It was kind of a like a head scratcher kind of day. A lot of putts didn’t end up where I thought they would,” Wie said.

Cristie Kerr shot a 70 to move to fourth at 8 under. Amy Anderson, top-ranked Inbee Park and So Yeon Ryu were tied for fifth at 6 under. Anderson, an LPGA rookie, shot her best round yet with a 68.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. is tied for 27th with nine others, including notables Lydia Ko and Morgan Pressell. She’s 1 over for the championship after a 76 Friday.

KAPOLEI, Hawaii – Angela Stanford shot an 8-under 64 on a wind-swept course to take a one-stroke lead after the second round of the LPGA LOTTE Championship on Thursday.

Stanford took the lead early with five birdies in a row on the front nine and finished the day with eight birdies. The best round of the tournament so far left the five-time LPGA Tour winner at 8-under 136.

Stanford said she was just trying to make it through the day.

“Finally, I got comfortable on these greens and it felt great. I mean, to see the ball go in that much is a lot of fun,” the 36-year-old said. “It was nice to see. I needed a round like that.”

Just like the first round, the contenders played day 2 at Ko Olina Golf Club with gusty winds – up to 18 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

“I think it’s more about putting. I hate to admit this, but I don’t always control my trajectory on purpose. It just kind of happens,” Stanford said. “When I get into the wind, and I’ve talked about this with my instructor, for some reason my body just starts moving into the ball more and I tend to keep it lower.”

Hawaii favourite Michelle Wie was one stroke back after a 67 that included five birdies.

Wie hit a birdie on the par-5 13th hole that helped her maintain momentum.

“That putt was really, really, really fast. It was downwind, down grain, downhill and I just barely touched it and I think the crowd rolled that one in for sure,” Wie said. “I thought it lipped out for sure, and it just kind of went around then, and so it was awesome.”

Christie Kerr, a 16-time tour winner, shot a 66 and was tied for third in a group of four at 138. Among them was top-ranked Inbee Park, who shot a 68.

Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont. got into the red Thursday thanks to a 3-under 69. The University of Alabama grad’s best finish on tour this year was a tie for 36th at the JTBC Founders Cup last month.

Anna Nordqvist, going for her third win of 2014, and 2012 LOTTE champion Ai Miyazato both missed the cut. Canada’s Lorie Kane (+6, 78-72–150), Alena Sharp (+7, 78-73–151), Sue Kim (+8, 78-74–152) and Rebecca Lee-Bentham (+17, 76-85–161) also failed to advance past the 36-hole cut line made at four-over par.