Golf

Beckman goes low, takes lead

By wire services
Published August 7, 2005

CASTLE ROCK, Colo. - Cameron Beckman made five birdies and an eagle Saturday to take the lead after two rounds at the International with 23 points, one ahead of Billy Mayfair, Charles Howell and Brandt Jobe.

Up next today - Rounds 3 and 4, a grueling 36 holes amid the tall pines, thin air and steep hills at Castle Pines.

"We're not out there hitting people and tackling people, but walking 36 holes on this golf course is not easy," Howell said. "I think it's just as important to physically stay strong as it is mentally."

Also in the hunt were David Toms, who scored 12 to bring his total to 18; Retief Goosen, who scored 12 to get to 17; and Phil Mickelson, who had a 5-footer for eagle on 17 but three-putted. He scored 14 to finish with 17.

Under the modified Stableford scoring system, players get eight points for double eagle - there have been three in the 20-year history of the tournament - five for eagle, two for birdie, none for par and lose a point for a bogey.

CHAMPIONS: Tom Purtzer shot 3-under 69 to expand his lead to three after two rounds of the 3M Championship in Blaine, Minn. Purtzer, who opened with a tournament record-tying 9-under 63, moved to 12-under 132 in chasing his second tour victory in 17 months. Lonnie Nielsen (68), Bruce Lietzke (71), Craig Stadler (67), David Eger (68) and Hajime Meshiai (66) were tied for second.

USGA: Morgan Pressel and Venezuela's Maru Martinez won semifinal matches at the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship in Roswell, Ga. Pressel, 17, beat Angela Park, a high school senior from Torrance, Calif., 3 and 1. Pressel played the two back-nine par 5s in 3 under. Martinez, an Auburn senior and the only nonteenager in the semifinals, never relinquished the lead after she birdied No.6 to go 1-up in her 4-and-3 victory over Australia's Alison Whitaker.

EUROPEAN PGA: Nicolas Colsaerts shot 5-under 67 to rally from three back and open a two-stroke lead after three rounds of the Johnnie Walker Championship in Gleneagles, Scotland. The 22-year-old Belgian birdied 16 and 18 and was 8-under 208. Colsaerts was ahead of Richard Bland (68) and Emanuele Canonica (69).

SCANDINAVIAN TPC: Tournament host Annika Sorenstam birdied the last two holes for 5-under 67, rallying from three back and giving her a one-stroke lead in Loddekopinge. Sorenstam was 4-under 212, with Suzann Pettersen at 213 after 69.

FUTURES: Jenny Gleason of Clearwater shot 69-68 and was one out of the lead at the Children's Hospital Classic in Beltsville, Md. Five shared the second-round lead. Kelly Lagedrost of Brooksville was tied for 14th after 68-139.

[Last modified August 7, 2005, 01:30:25]