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The dark skies and foul weather that forced the second round of the CN Canadian Women's Open to be suspended Friday didn't dampen Alena Sharp's day.

The Hamilton native was already safely in the clubhouse by the time hail and heavy rains halted play at the US$2.25-million LPGA event.

After opening with a 1-under 71 on Thursday, the 27-year-old shot 1-over 73 and could relax knowing she'd come in safely under the projected cut of 3 over.

Sharp sits tied for 12th with three others at even-par 144, 10 strokes back of the current leader, Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, but still alive in a tournament that hasn't been won by a Canadian since Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973.

"The two hardest days are over with now. Now I can just go play golf on the weekend," Sharp said. "It's stressful being a Canadian and trying to make the cut up here. This is only my second cut made in I don't know how many years I've played in this tournament, so I'm happy to be playing on the weekend."

LPGA veteran Lorie Kane of Charlottetown also managed to get her round in. Although she struggled with her putting, she did at least figure to qualify for weekend play after shooting a 1-over-73 for a two-day total of 3-over 147, which has her among a large group tied for 24th.

"I made a couple of birdies today, but I still had an awful lot of chances and I'm still just not letting it loose," said Kane, whose last tour victory came at the LPGA Takefuji Classic in 2001.

"I had a number in mind today I wanted to be under par, at least get us back to even par, and at even par for the tournament then I was going to be able to give it a run tomorrow and the next day. I'm not here to make cuts anymore, I'm here to win golf tournaments. That's just the way that is.

"I know I've got a couple of low rounds in me and I can have a good finish."

Sixteen Canadians are entered in the field, but few are expected to survive when the cut is made Saturday morning after the completion of the second round.

Amateur Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C., will return to school next week at Kent State University knowing she could hang with the LPGA's big names, just not for long.

After opening with an even-par 72 Thursday, Dreher recorded a pair of double bogeys over her first nine holes and wound up at 7-over 79 Friday and won't make the cut.

Fellow amateur Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Windsor, Que., was playing in a group with Sharp and U.S. sensation Michelle Wie.

Although she earned praise from Wie, who said she "was great, a really nice girl and really good ball-striker," Leblanc shot 81 for a two-day total of 9-over 157.

Also missing the cut will be Salimah Mussani of Burlington, Ont., (73-76-149), Adrienne White of Red Deer, Alta., (73-76-149), amateur Stephanie Sherlock of Barrie, Ont., (78-73-151), Cindy Pasechnik of Calgary (79-76-155), Seema Sadekar of Toronto (83-77-160) and Corina Kelepouris of Drayton Valley, Alta., (85-81-166).

Dawn Coe-Jones of Lake Cowichan, B.C., who's making her final tour appearance on home soil after announcing earlier this week that this season would be her last after 24 years on the tour, was 8 over halfway through her round when play was stopped and sits at 11 over for the tournament.

Others still to finish are Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., and Jennifer Greggain of Chilliwack, B.C. Although both have yet to reach the halfway point, they're at 1 over.

Amateur Sue Kim of Langley, B.C., is 4 over through 10 holes and A.J. Eathorne of Penticton, B.C., and amateur Kira Meixner of Richmond, B.C., are at 8 over midway through their rounds.

Sharp, teeing off on the back nine, was playing under sunny skies and the presence of Wie alongside her meant a large gallery followed the group throughout the day.

"I love playing in front of a crowd, so I thought it was a lot of fun, definitely," Sharp said. "Even though I'm a Canadian, I felt like they were out there to watch her more than me."

Sharp and Wie have a history dating back to last year's Ginn Tribute tournament, an event that Wie withdrew from with a wrist injury while she was dangerously close to scoring high enough to violate the LPGA's "Rule 88," a total that would have seen her suspended for the rest of the season.

Speaking with reporters afterward, Sharp made remarks to reporters that raised questions over the validity of the injury and has since made comments over Wie's controversial decisions to play PGA Tour events while her LPGA status for next season is in doubt.

However, there was no ill will Friday. Sharp didn't fare as well as she had a day earlier, managing just two birdies on the day after notching four Thursday, but she also avoided the double bogey on the par-5 sixth hole that she had in Round 1.

"I didn't hit it as solid as yesterday, but I got up and down and made a lot of great putts out there," she said. "I made a lot of good six- to eight-footers for par and if I didn't make those, I don't know if I'd be playing this weekend."

"It's not the putter, that's for sure. My short game's there, it's just to get those irons straighter for tomorrow and for Sunday."