NAPLES, Fla. — Ai Miyazato of Japan kept telling herself to be patient and the putts would start falling. It all came together Friday at the Titleholders, where she shot an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead. NAPLES, Fla. —
NAPLES, Fla. — Ai Miyazato of Japan kept telling herself to be patient and the putts would start falling. It all came together Friday at the Titleholders, where she shot an 8-under 64 for a one-shot lead.
Two big birdie runs gave Miyazato a good chance to finish off the year with her third win. She finished the front nine with four birdies in a five-hole stretch, then ran off three straight birdies on the back nine at The TwinEagles Club, which had given her fits in the opening round.
Miyazato was at 10-under 134, one shot clear of U.S. Women’s Open Na Yeon Choi, who also felt comfortable with the putter on the expansive greens with big undulations. Choi also finished with a big putt, from about 12 feet, only it was for par.
Sun Young Yoo, one of three players who shared the lead going into the second round, thought she was only two shots back when she walked off the course. She was approached by rules officials in the scoring tent, who pointed out that her arm was not shoulder-high when she took a penalty drop on the 14th hole. That made a bad hole even worse, as Yoo was assessed a one-shot penalty and had a 71.
Yoo was at 7-under 137, along with Suzann Pettersen, Brittany Lincicome and Karine Icher. Lincicome had a 69, Icher shot 70, and Pettersen 71.
Stacy Lewis still has high hopes, though she has plenty of work to catch up.
Lewis has been distracted all week since the Friday night awards dinner in which she was honored as the LPGA player of the year, the first American to win the biggest award in women’s golf since Beth Daniel in 1994.
Lewis had a 72, leaving her eight shots behind.
Campbell leads Hong Kong Open
HONG KONG — New Zealand’s Michael Campbell shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the Hong Kong Open, while top-ranked defending champion Rory McIlroy missed the cut.
Campbell was 9 under at Hong Kong Golf Club. Spain’s Miguel Angel Jimenez, China’s Zhang Lian-wei and Sweden’s Fredrik Andersson Hed were tied for second. Jimenez had a 67, and Zhang and Andersson Hed shot 66.
McIlroy shot a 72 to finish at 5 over.
Guyatt ahead by 2 at Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s Matthew Guyatt shot a 3-under 69 to maintain a two-stroke lead after the second round of the Australian Masters.
Guyatt was 10 under at Kingston Heath.
New Zealand’s Michael Hendry was second after a 69. Australian star Adam Scott was 7 under after a 70, and defending champion Ian Poulter of England was five strokes behind after a 72.
Stenson up by 4 at South African
JOHANNESBURG — Sweden’s Henrik Stenson opened a four-shot lead in South African Open with a 7-under 65 before second-round play was suspended because of an electrical storm.
Stenson was 13 under at the Serengeti Golf and Wildlife Estate. Swedish compatriot Magnus Carlsson and South Africa’s Merrick Bremner were tied for second. Carlsson had a 67, and Bremner had four holes left.
The tournament is sanctioned by the Sunshine and European tours.
two share lead at Pebble Beach
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Russ Cochran shot a 7-under 65 at Del Monte for a share of the Pebble Beach Invitational lead with fellow Champions Tour player Kirk Triplett.
Triplett had a 69 at Del Monte to match Cochran at 9-under 135 in the tournament that features 81 players from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Web.com tours.
John Mallinger, the 2010 winner, was a stroke back after a 69 at Spyglass Hill. Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam was 5 under after a 69 at Spyglass.
