Icher holds slim lead over three in France

EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France -- Se Ri Pak knows that you can never underestimate the value of a good night's sleep.

Karine Icher posted six birdies during her bogey-free round Thursday. (AP)

After battling jetlag and fatigue in the opening round, Pak fired an 8-under-par 64 on Thursday to move within one shot of leader Karine Icher of France after the second round of the $2.1 million Evian Masters.

Pak struggled to a 71 in Wednesday's opening round, a sluggish performance she blamed on little rest after winning the LPGA Championship on Sunday. But the native of Korea bounced back to improve to 9-under 135.

Icher, in just her second year on tour, shot a 66 on Thursday and owns the lead at 134.

Swedish superstar Annika Sörenstam and Leta Lindley of the United States also are one stroke back at 135. Lindley shot a 66 and Sörenstam a 65.

Pak moved back in contention with the help of an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole, chipping in from 25 feet.

"I had better sleep, better rest," said Pak, who had eight birdies and an eagle in Thursday's round. "The first couple of days I struggled. I couldn't sleep and I was waking up in the middle of the night. But I had pretty good sleep last night and I feel great."

The 24-year-old Pak last week became the youngest player to win four majors. She also claimed the U.S. Women's Open in 1998 and last year's Weetabix Women's British Open and still feels she can get better.

"To get to 100 percent, that is impossible. But you can get close," Pak said. "I can work hard on my game and find out what is wrong."

Icher had a bogey-free round to move into the lead, sinking a 40-foot putt for birdie on No. 11. But she does not feel any added pressure of trying to win the title on home soil.

"I do not have the fate of the world on me," said Icher, who credits a new driver for her improved play. "It's my second year on the tour, and I'm learning."

First-round leader Mi Hyun Kim of Korea shot a 70 on Thursday and is alone in fifth place at 136.

The tournament matches the top players from the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour, including Sörenstam, the four-time 2002 LPGA Tour winner and reigning Player of the Year.

Sörenstam shot a bogey-free round on Thursday, including birdies on Nos. 15 and 18.

"I'm very pleased. I had a lot of chances, but the greens are still something I'm not used to," Sörenstam said. "It's been tough to make the transition from last week."

Grace Park of Korea (69) and Carin Koch of Sweden (68) are alone in sixth and seventh place, respectively.

Karrie Webb of Australia slumped to a 72 and is at 145.

The Evian Masters made its debut as an official LPGA Tour event in 2000 with Sörenstam winning in a playoff over Webb.

The qualification criteria are the top 10 finishers and ties from last year's Evian Masters, LPGA tournament winners and LET winners from 2001 and 2002, U.S. Women's Open and British Open champions for the two years preceding the tournament; active LPGA Tour Hall of Fame members who played a minimum of 10 events in 2001, 1994-99 Evian Masters champions and one sponsor exemption.

The remainder of the field was filled on an alternating basis between the 2002 LPGA money list and the LET Order of Merit.