Sunday, June 1, 2003

Leader Sorenstam closes with 5 birdies



The Associated Press

AURORA, Ill. - There's nothing like a couple of bogeys to get Annika Sorenstam fired up.

Angry with herself after three-putt bogeys on consecutive holes, Sorenstam birdied the last five holes Saturday to take a two-stroke lead into the final round of the Kellogg-Keebler Classic.

"I told my caddie: 'I've had enough. I'm playing great, I've had a lot of great shots. Let's get this turned around. There's five more holes - let's just go get five birdies,' " she said. "That's what happened."

Sorenstam finished with a 6-under 66, the second-best round of the day, giving her a two-day score of 16-under 128. Mhairi McKay had nine birdies for a 64 and is at 130.

Rosie Jones, who began the day tied with Sorenstam, shot a 71 and is five strokes off the lead.

"I got away with something today. I didn't hit the ball well at all," Jones said. "I feel like I could have shot three or four under. I just didn't do it."

Jones said she was bothered by the conditions, which seemed better suited for football than golf. Temperatures were in the low 50s, with wind gusting up to 30 mph.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Jim Ahern isn't surprised to see the leader of the Music City Championship in Nashville at 17-under. He is pleased to find his name beside the score.

Ahern shot a 9-under 63 to take a six-stroke lead after the second round of the over-50 tour event.

"It doesn't make any difference how hard the golf course is or the conditions, somebody on this tour or on the regular tour, shoots lights out," he said. "You've kind of got to expect it, that somebody is going to do it. I'm just glad it was me."

Jose Maria Canizares, whose son Alejandro won the individual NCAA championship for Arizona State on Friday, was tied for second with Rodger Davis at 11 under. Canizares shot a 65, and Davis had a 66.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Ian Poulter of England withstood a rough stretch on the back nine but led the Wales Open in Newport by two strokes entering the final round. Poulter bogeyed the 14th and 15th and double-bogeyed the 16th. He finished at 4-under-par 68 and was at 16-under 200 after three rounds. Phillip Price of Wales shot a 68 for a 202.

NATIONWIDE TOUR: The Henrico County Open in Glen Allen, Va., was wiped out because of rain, with tour officials attempting to reschedule the event for July 14-20.