RANCHO MIRAGE, California, 28 March 2004 — Dottie Pepper stepped up her bid to become the third triple winner of the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Friday.
The 38-year-old American shared the second-round lead with South Korea’s Lee Jung-Yeon after shooting a two-under-par 70 for a six-under total of 138 in the first women’s major of the season.
Lee, 25, who was in the last group and finished her six-hour round in near darkness, fired a joint best of the day 69 at Mission Hills Country Club. Her two playing partners, Nanci Bowen and Heather Daly-Donofrio, opted not to play the 18th hole because of the conditions. Fourteen-year-old Hawaiian Michelle Wie, bidding to become the youngest winner of an LPGA Tour event, returned a level-par 72 in the tough, windy conditions to finish three-under on 141.
Seventeen-year-old South Korean Aree Song (73), who led overnight, and Australians Karrie Webb (71) and Wendy Doolan (69) were tied for third place on 139, one stroke ahead of American Rosie Jones. World number one Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, another twice former champion, had a disappointing 76 to finish nine shots off the lead on three-over 147.
Spence Leads Way Into Delayed Madeira Third Round
In Machico, Madeira, Briton Jamie Spence took a one-shot lead into the delayed third round of the Madeira Island Open yesterday after strong winds prevented anyone overtaking his early second-round lead.
Spence picked up one shot when he returned to the course to complete his rain-hit second round early on Saturday, but denied himself a bigger lead by bogeying the last for a five-under-par 67.
The 40-year-old Spence’s 11-under-par 133 total put him a stroke ahead of Australia’s Brad Kennedy, who bogeyed both the last two holes for a 72.
Denmark’s Knud Storgaard, who finished his 67 on Friday to set a target of 136, and American Rob Rashell, who completed a similar 67 yesterday morning, share third place.
Mexico’s Del Olmo Breaks From the Crowd at Indian Open
In New Delhi, Mexican Pablo Del Olmo broke away from a crowded leaderboard in the $300,000 Indian Open yesterday after a five-under-par 67 in the third round earned him a three-shot advantage.
Del Olmo, one of four players tied for the lead at the halfway stage on Friday, ended the day on 14-under-par 202, clear of Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Keith Horne of South Africa who shot matching 70s to settle at 205. Thailand’s Thaworn Wiratchant was a shot back following a 71.
