ROGERS, Ark. — Angela Stanford needed some time to adjust to her family's new challenge. After her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, she struggled on the course in July and early August.

"I really thought I was going to handle it better, and I didn't right off the bat," Stanford said. "Now, it is a new normal. ... We know what's going to happen, and we know it's going to be a good end. So that makes it a lot easier."

Stanford shot a 2-under 69 yesterday to move to second place at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship with a 135 total. She trails Song-Hee Kim, who fired a 68, by two strokes heading into the final round.

Hawai'i rookie Michelle Wie shot a 1-under 70 and is tied for 15th place at 139. The Punahou alum and Stanford student made four birdies to offset three bogeys.

Kim shot a 68 despite hitting only 6 of 13 fairways. The 21-year-old South Korean is trying for her first win on the LPGA Tour.

"I had to be patient today," she said. "I made a lot of up-and-downs, and I made a lot of good par putts."

Sandra Gal was the first-round leader at 7 under, but she shot a 76 yesterday. That was reminiscent of her struggles at the Women's British Open, when she opened with 69 and followed with an 80.