Golf

Mallon is one putt short of LPGA scoring record

©Associated Press
March 15, 2003

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Watching Annika Sorenstam shoot 59 two years ago was an experience Meg Mallon will never forget.

She almost had one to match it in the first LPGA tournament of this season.

Mallon shot 10-under 60 in the second round of the Welch's-Fry's Championship on Friday. She needed birdie on the 18th hole to tie Sorenstam for the lowest score in tour history but left an 18-foot downhill putt about 3-1/2 feet short.

"Right off the green yesterday, we talked about, 'Is there a 59 out there?' " Mallon said. "I thought there definitely was. I didn't think it was me, but it was nice to have the chance to do that."

Mallon's 36-hole total was 16-under 124, giving her a three-shot lead over first-round leader Lorie Kane, Wendy Doolan and Young Kim. Kane, who shot the fourth 61 in LPGA history Thursday, had 66. Doolan carded 62 and Kim 64.

"I wanted to watch another 59," said Kane, who played one group ahead of Mallon and lingered on the final green to watch the leader putt out.

"I keep an eye on the leaderboard, yeah. They were behind us. So I was kind of aware of what was going on, but I'm just trying to play as best I can."

Grace Park was alone at 128, and Laura Davies and A.J. Eathorne were paired at 129.

HONDA CLASSIC: Although it might seem unfamiliar, Notah Begay III felt right at home atop the leaderboard at Palm Beach Gardens.

Begay shot 5-under 67 in the second round to take a share of the lead with David Peoples at 14-under 130 when play was suspended because of darkness.

Begay is a highly confident four-time winner on the PGA Tour who also played on Stanford's 1994 national championship team. But after finishing the 2000 season ranked 20th on the money list, he battled back problems for two years, and he didn't lead a tournament heading into the weekend.

"It's just a symbolic accomplishment for me, knowing that I've bested the field the first two days, and going into the weekend I have a real great opportunity to win the golf tournament," Begay said.

Davis Love III, the only player in the tournament who's among the top 10 in the world rankings, heads a list of golfers within striking distance. Love (65), Tom Byrum (64) and Esteban Toledo (67) were 13 under.

Also, the tour caddie who collapsed during the first round will spend another night in the hospital.

David Beighle, caddie for Neal Lancaster, dropped to the ground Thursday while walking from the 18th green to the No.1 tee.

Lancaster said the 6-foot, 260-pound Beighle had been taking a diet supplement. Beighle told his employer the supplement did not contain ephedra, which was partly to blame for the heatstroke death of Orioles pitcher Steve Bechler last month.

SBC CLASSIC: Early starter Gil Morgan avoided the afternoon wind that kept scores high and shot 7-under-par 65 to take the first-round lead at the Champions Tour event in Santa Clarita, Calif.

"I think the early starters had an advantage," Morgan said. "With the wind picking up in the afternoon, and the forecast for rain over the weekend, it was important to get off to a fast start."

Morgan had the fastest start of the day. He eagled the first and birdied the third and ninth to make the turn at 33, then made four birdies on the back nine.

"It was really a round that could have been lower," Morgan said. "I missed a short birdie putt at the seventh hole, missed at least three chances from 10 to 15 feet on the back nine, and three-putted for par on a par 5."

John Schroeder, who almost pulled out of the tournament because he felt sick in the morning, one-putted his last six to finish a stroke back.

QATAR MASTERS: England's David Howell shot 72 and was tied for the lead in Doha.

Howell, one of three to complete the second round of the European PGA event, was tied with France's Jean-Francois Remesy, who was 4 under through 12 holes. Howell and Remesy were 6 under overall.

A desert sandstorm and blustery winds halted the tournament Thursday, with 72 of the 150 players teeing off and no one finishing the first round. Players completed it Friday. The second round will be completed today.

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