Rancho Mirage, Calif. ? Patricia Meunier-Lebouc thought playing with Annika Sorenstam might make her a better player. So far at the Kraft Nabisco, she’s been better than ever.

Paired with Sorenstam for her fourth straight round, Meunier-Lebouc shot a 4-under 68 Friday to take a two-stroke lead over her playing partner midway through the first LPGA major championship of the year.

While Sorenstam faltered with three back-nine bogeys, Meunier-Lebouc parred her way in on the last eight holes to take the lead on day when unpredictable wind made scoring difficult on the Dinah Shore tournament course at Mission Hills Country Club.

“It’s just so much fun to play with Annika,” Meunier-Lebouc said.

Sorenstam struggled with the wind but came back to hit a sand wedge to 9 feet and birdie the final hole for an even-par 72. Another shot back at 141 was Mexican rookie Lorena Ochoa.

“It was difficult today because the wind was swirling on the front nine, and on the back it would gust a bit,” Sorenstam said. “There were several shots I couldn’t believe.”

Among them was a pitching wedge Sorenstam hit on the 136-yard 14th hole that flew the green and led to a bogey. Meunier-Lebouc watched the shot, then put away the 9-iron she wanted to hit and hit her wedge short of the green.

“I feel kind of worn out because I was thinking so much on the course,” Sorenstam said.

After an opening two tournaments on the LPGA Tour in which players had to shoot in the low to mid 60s to win, the first major championship features a tougher course, deeper rough, quicker greens and wind.

They weren’t enough to knock 13-year-old Michelle Wie out of the tournament. She shot a 74 to make the cut at 2-over-par.