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LPGA LOTTE NOTEBOOK
Wie a bit busy
If Michelle Wie can pull off a win Saturday, she may have to wait until Sunday to really celebrate.
The Punahou graduate’s "Wie Love Ping Pong" benefit for the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association starts at 5:30 Saturday night at the eleven44 club on Bethel Street. That’s a couple of hours after the LPGA Lotte Championship is scheduled to end.
Kapalua broadcaster Mark Rolfing is "ringmaster" for a pingpong showdown featuring Wie and some of her LPGA friends, including Cristie Kerr and Christina Kim.
"Cristie is pretty good," Wie said, then grinned. "I, myself, am not horrible."
Each golf pro will be paired with amateurs for a doubles throwdown, with the final scheduled for 9:15 p.m., Daniel Dae Kim will be a "celebrity guest player." There will be music and drinks, and a few of Wie’s many favorite local chefs will provide food for those who take part.
When that wraps up, Wie said she is headed to Hawaiian Brian’s for a 10 p.m. benefit for homeless in Hawaii.
"It’s going to be a busy night," she said.
Kim visits juniors
After a frustrating finish Wednesday, Christina Kim took some time to visit with the kids from Ho‘okipa I Po‘okela — Ko Olina’s junior golf program — behind the ninth green.
Michelle Wie finished soon after and Faith Rosario, one of the youngest Ho‘okipa kids, had to leave before she could visit with Wie. Kim talked to her much taller friend and asked Wie to write a note to Rosario, telling her she was sorry to miss her. Wie punctuated it with an autograph at the end of the note.
New champ on the way
There will be a first-time champion at the third-year LPGA Lotte Championship.
The event’s inaugural winner, Ai Miyazato of Japan, did not make the cut after shooting a 5-over 149 over the first two days at Ko Olina Golf Club. The cut line was 4 over.
Miyazato bogeyed three of her first five holes Thursday and could not recover, finishing in a tie for 78th.
Last year’s champion, Suzann Pettersen of Norway, did not enter this year’s event because of a back injury.
Kerr finds her balance
Shooting 6 under par in a bogey-free round is always nice.
Being greeted at the 18th green by a smiling 41⁄2-month-old, even better.
Coming off an even-par round on Wednesday, Cristie Kerr had six birdies in the second round and was tied for third when she signed for her 66.
Among the first faces she greeted after a par on No. 18 was her son, Mason, dressed in an aloha shirt. Kerr said being a mother has helped her separate life inside and outside the ropes.
"I’m paying attention to my job out there, so it’s hard for me to really focus on what’s going on outside the ropes," Kerr said.
"When I’m off the course, I’m a mom and it’s easier to let things go, you have more perspective."
Kerr has 16 career victories and finished in the top 10 in the three tournaments leading into the Lotte Championship. She had some family time in the week off following a tie for fourth at the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
"I took four days off and just tried to rest and get ready for the travel and just hang out with the son and my husband," Kerr said. "It’s important to get away from the game."
Gulbis withdraws
Natalie Gulbis withdrew from the tournament before Thursday’s round due to a wrist injury. Gulbis shot a 9 over 81 in the first round on Wednesday.
An injury also forced Haley Millsap to withdraw after she opened the tournament with an 80.
Vicky Hurst was disqualified after Wednesday’s round due to an incorrect scorecard. Xi Yu Lin was also disqualified on Thursday for a violation of rule 20-7, playing a ball dropped or placed at the wrong spot.
SCOREBOARD
Second Round At Ko Olina Golf Club Course a-denotes amateur
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