AKRON, Ohio, 24 August 2003 — David Toms and Chris Riley used different methods to shoot identical scores for a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational on Friday.
Paired together at Firestone Country Club’s South Course, Toms used a precision long game and Riley an economy of putting strokes to come in with three-under-par 67s.
The American duo ended the second round at seven-under 133, one stroke ahead of a hard-charging Fred Funk and Vijay Singh on a day when scoring conditions grew increasingly difficult because of freshening winds Funk, who benefited from the mid-morning conditions, shot a bogey-free eight-under 62, one off the course record. His day began with an eagle-two at the par-four first when he holed out from 120 yards with a pitching wedge. Singh had a 65.
Brad Faxon, who shot 67, and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who had a 70, were tied for fifth at 135, one ahead of Retief Goosen and Davis Love III. Goosen had a 69, while Love bogeyed two of the last three holes for 70.
Peter Jacobsen jumped 54 spots after shooting 64 and was tied for ninth with five others, including Tiger Woods, who double-bogeyed the final hole for a 72, and Ernie Els.
Herron Beats Rain, Takes Lead in Reno
In Reno, Nevada, Tim Herron carded a seven-under-par 65 Friday to take the clubhouse lead midway through a rain-soaked second round at the Reno-Tahoe Open.
Herron’s 36-hole total of 10-under 134 is one shot better than Nevada’s Craig Barlow, who carded a 65 Friday, and two strokes better than Kirk Triplett, who played his college golf at the University of Nevada.
Triplett was one of 65 golfers to be stranded on the course when darkness stopped play. He completed just three holes and will be out early yesterday morning if weather permits.
Weather plagued play Thursday, making for a long afternoon on Friday. Herron played 32 holes while Barlow played 35. Guy Boros and David Sutherland are three shots off the pace on 137.
Herron has three top-10 finishes this year and three career victories but none since the 1999 Bay Hill Invitational. He is 40th on the money list with $1.15 million earned. John Daly withdrew from the event Friday.
Mallon Builds Three-Shot Lead at LPGA Classic
In Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Meg Mallon shot a comfortable six-under-par 66 on Friday at steamy Berkleigh Country Club, building a three-shot lead at 10-under 134 midway through the LPGA Classic.
It has been another strong showing at Berkleigh for Mallon, who has three top-10 finishes in her last four appearances here, finishing second to Michele Redman in 2000.
Mallon is three strokes ahead of Janice Moodie of Scotland and Kim Saiki, who are at 7-under 137. Daniel and Candie Kung of Taiwan share fourth at 138, a shot better than Heather Bowie and Dawn-Coe Jones.
Moodie had eight birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey en route to a rocky 68. She played the back side - her opening nine holes — in 5-under.
Wie Shoots 79, Misses Cut at Bay Mills Open
In Brimley, Michigan, after a promising start, Michelle Wie endured a crashing finish. After an opening round 74, Wie shot a seven-over-par 79 on Friday and missed the cut by five strokes at the Bay Mills Open Championship — the final event of the season on the Canadian Tour.
The 13-year-old Wie failed to become the first female to make the cut at a men’s professional event in 2003. Annika Sorenstam missed by four strokes at the Colonial, and Suzy Whaley came up 13 strokes short at the Greater Hartford Open.
Wie, who is slated to start ninth grade tomorrow, had a rough second round. She carded eight bogeys — including four straight beginning at No. 2 — and one birdie. Wie participated in the event on a Golf Channel exemption.
