Daytona Beach, FL (My Sportsbook) - Michelle Wie all but guaranteed herself a tour card with a four-under 68 on Saturday that moved her into second place behind Stacy Lewis at the LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.
Wie, 19 and seeking an LPGA Tour card for the first time, stood at 14-under 274 heading into the fifth and final round. Sitting a comfortable nine shots out of the last qualifying position, nothing short of a historic collapse will keep Wie from earning that card on Sunday.
Lewis, meanwhile, fired a five-under 67 on Saturday and took a one-shot lead over Wie at 15-under 273.
Amy Yang was in third place, also posting a 67 to reach 13-under 275, while Shiho Oyama (71) was fourth at 12-under 276. Overnight-leader Mollie Fankhauser (73) slipped into a share of fifth place with Charlotte Mayorkas (69) at 277.
Wie, who is declining interviews until after the final round, has been on track to claim long-awaited full-time playing status since she fired a 65 in the second round on Thursday. It was her lowest score in more than three years.
Although she has played in professional tournaments since her early teens -- including, famously, against the men -- Wie has never actually enjoyed status on any tour.
But playing on her own merits in 2009 -- while she continues her college education at Stanford -- would go a long way towards silencing some of the criticism she has faced in the past while accepting sponsor's exemptions into many tournaments.
Lewis, 23, has also survived on sponsor's exemptions since turning pro and she will be seeking full-time privileges for the first time as well.
An unofficial winner in Arkansas last year as an amateur -- the tournament was called off after 18 holes -- Lewis wasn't totally satisfied with her 67 on Saturday.
"I actually left about four or five putts out there," she said, "so it could have been a really low round."
Lewis is becoming accustomed to playing with Wie -- something that should help her deal with the circus on Sunday. She played alongside Wie in sectional qualifying and during the third round Friday.
"It's just part of the deal. She's great to play with and it'll be fun," said Lewis. "[Winning] is all I'm thinking about."
