Honolulu Star-Advertiser

Friday, July 26, 2024 84° Today's Paper


Sports

Wie 2 behind Feng through 3

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Wie is two shots off the pace heading into the final round of the Manulife Financial Classic after a 65 on Saturday.

WATERLOO, Ontario » Shanshan Feng took a two-stroke lead Saturday in the LPGA Tour’s Manulife Financial Classic, shooting a 4-under 67 in calm conditions at Grey Silo.

The 24-year-old Chinese player had a 15-under 198 total. She made a 30-foot eagle putt on the par-5 fifth, had two birdies and dropped her first stroke of the week with a bogey on the par-4 16th.

"I got off to a very good start, 4 under through six holes," Feng said. "Then actually, I couldn’t make a lot of putts. I missed a lot of birdie putts, plus one bogey, so actually I dropped back one shot. My goal is to get to 25 under. Of course, now I’m 15, so if I want to get to 25 tomorrow, I need to shoot 10 under."

Feng won twice late last year after taking the 2012 LPGA Championship to become the first Chinese winner in LPGA Tour history.

"I think tomorrow I have no pressure," Feng said.

Michelle Wie and second-ranked Inbee Park were tied for second. Wie had a 65, and Park shot a bogey-free 65.

Wie is seeking her second victory in Canada after winning the 2010 Canadian Women’s Open in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

She rebounded from bogeys on No. 2 and 3 with birdies on Nos. 4 and 6.

"Yeah, quite a shaky start," Wie said. "I missed a good birdie opportunity on the first hole and I kind of duck hooked it on the second hole and had to take an unplayable, and actually it was a really good bogey.

"Then I kind of hooked it on the next hole, hit it in the bunker. So I just couldn’t get my tempo right in the beginning, but definitely felt like I finished strong. Definitely the start that I had today, I’m really happy with the way I finished."

Park is winless in 10 tour starts this season after sweeping the first three majors last year and finishing the season with six victories.

Cristie Kerr was 12 under after a 65.

Storms keep halting St. Jude

MEMPHIS, Tenn. » Ben Crane went more than 28 hours between competitive shots due to weather delays, and he had a four-stroke lead Saturday when another storm stopped play again at the St. Jude Classic.

Crane birdied his first hole and was 13 under overall through six holes at rain-softened TPC Southwind, he opened with rounds of 63 and 65.

Troy Merritt was at 9 under, with playing partner Peter Malnati at 8 under.

Haas, Jacobsen lead Legends

RIDGEDALE, Mo. » Jay Haas and Peter Jacobsen took the second-round lead in the Champions Tour’s Legends of Golf, teaming for a 6-under 48 in windy conditions on the par-3 Top of the Rock course.

Jeff Sluman and Fred Funk were second after a 50 on the par-3 course, the site of the final round Sunday.

U.S. closes in on Curtis Cup win

ST. LOUIS » UCLA’s Alison Lee helped the United States move within 11/2 points of regaining the Curtis Cup, winning two matches against Britain and Ireland at rainy St. Louis Country Club.

Comments are closed.