Saturday, June 22, 2002
Eagle on final hole gives Thompson second-round lead
The Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Robert Thompson rolled in a 90-foot eagle putt to cap a 5-under-par 67 Friday and take a one-stroke lead after two rounds of the PGA Club Professional Championship.
Thompson, the head pro at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, was at 8-under 136 for two trips around the 7,030-yard Valhalla Golf Club course.
Mike Gilmore of Wheatley Hills Golf Club in East Williston, N.Y., was second after a 68.
Don Berry of Edinburg USA Golf Club in Brooklyn Park, Minn., who tied Thompson for the day's best round, was at 140 along with Barry Evans of Berry Hills Country Club in Charleston, W.Va.; Kim Thompson of Mulligan's Golf and Game South in South Jordan, Utah; and Tag Wylie of High Meadows Golf and Country Club in Roaring Gap, N.C. Wylie had a 69, while Thompson and Evans had 70s.
Thompson, 45, had four birdies and a bogey to go with his eagle on the 535-yard 18th.
“I was just trying to knock it up there somewhere close from down there to get it up to the hole,” Thompson said of the left-to-right putt. “I've been playing golf for so long; it's probably one of the longest I've ever had.”
The field of 156 was trimmed to the low 70 scores and ties, with 84 players advancing to the weekend by making the cut of 7-over 151.
Suzy Whaley, of Farmington, Conn., the first woman to compete in the CPC, saw her bid to make the cut fall apart on No. 16 with a quadruple-bogey 8. She finished with a 76 and a 156 total.
The low 25 scorers following Sunday's final round earn a berth in the PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. from Aug 15-18.
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PGA Tour
CROMWELL, Conn. — Davis Love III shot a 6-under-par 64 in breezy afternoon conditions for a share of the second-round lead of the Greater Hartford Open with Briny Baird and Jonathan Kaye at 8-under 132.
Love holed a 27-foot birdie putt on the short par-4 15th after a poor chip from the swale in front of the green, and made four other birdies putts from 12-to-15 feet.
Baird and Kay, both winless on the PGA Tour, shot 67s on the TPC at River Highlands. Scott Hoch (66) and Kaname Yokoo (68) were a stroke back at 7-under, and Len Mattiace (64), David Peoples (65), Peter Lonard (68) and Hidemichi Tanaka (70) were 6-under.
Defending champion Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia shot 67s to reach 4-under and Ernie Els was 1-under after a 70.
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LPGA Tour
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Mi Hyun Kim shot a 5-under-par 67 to move into a tie with Karrie Webb for the second-round lead at the LPGA Rochester International.
Webb, whose 64 broke the record for the best opening round in the tournament's 26-year history, shot an even-par 72 for a two-round total of 136.
Hall of Famer Beth Daniel moved into contention with a 68 that put her just two shots behind. Defending champion Laura Davies had a steady 69 and was in a three-way tie at 4-under 140 with Meg Mallon and Gloria Park.
Kim took advantage of her morning start and had five birdies in a bogey-free round to pick up five shots. Webb, who played in the afternoon, had two bogeys after a birdie on the front nine to drop to 7-under, then rallied with birdie at the par-5 11th and parred out.
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Senior PGA Tour
HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Rodger Davis made five of his eight birdies on the back nine and shot a 7-under-par 65 to share the first-round lead with Jim Ahern and John Mahaffey at the Greater Baltimore Classic.
Bruce Fleisher, John Jacobs and Mike McCullough were two shots behind, and Bobby Wadkins was among four players at 68.
Seeking his first win on the senior tour, Davis was 2-under after the front nine before using a string of five birdies in seven holes to move atop the leaderboard.
Chi Chi Rodriguez used an eagle on 18 to finish in a group of nine players at 69.
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European PGA
HEXHAM, England — Sven Struever of Germany shot a 7-under-par-65 and held a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Great North Open.
Struever, who is at 8-under 136, birdied seven holes — including four straight after the 12th — after he started on the back nine of the Slaley Hall course.
First-round leader Diego Borrego of Spain shot a 71 to put him one shot behind, while Roger Wessels of South Africa shot his second straight 69 and was third at 136.
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