Golf roundup
Ochoa maintains lead in Kraft Nabisco Championship RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) – Lorena Ochoa shot a 1-under 71 to maintain a four-shot lead over Michelle Wie on Friday after the second round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.
Ochoa and Wie, who also shot a 71, both grinded over every shot on a cool, blustery afternoon in the desert. Coming off a 62 in the first round, which tied the lowest score ever in a major, Ochoa twice scrambled for par and pieced together enough birdies for finish at 11-under 133.
Karrie Webb, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame four months ago, holed out a 7-iron from 152 yards for eagle on her way to a 68 and was at 138. She will join Ochoa and Wie in the final group of the LPGA Tour’s first major of the year.
Seon Hwa Lee shot her second straight 69 and joined Webb at 138. Paula Creamer had a 71 and was at 140, along with Stacy Prammanasudh (73).
Annika Sorenstam’s start toward the Grand Slam isn’t going anywhere. She three putted for bogey twice on her way to an even-par 72 that left her 10 shots behind.
BellSouth Classic
DULUTH, Ga. – Phil Mickelson is quickly gaining momentum for the Masters.
Mickelson shot a 65 to take a commanding six-stroke lead after the second round of the BellSouth Classic.
One day after matching the course record with a first-round 63, Mickelson was 7 under in the second round to set a tournament record for 36 holes at 16-under 128.
The PGA record for most strokes under par through four rounds on a par-72 course is 29 under by Joe Durant in the 2001 Bob Hope Classic.
Mickelson is on pace to finish at 32-under 256. The PGA record low total for 72 holes is 254 by Tommy Armour III in the 2003 Texas Open.
But Mickelson says he just wants to be playing well heading into next week’s Masters.
J.J. Henry matched Mickelson’s 65 at the TPC at Sugarloaf to move into second at 134 – a total that would have led in five of the previous nine years. Instead, Henry is six shots off Mickelson’s lead.
Jose Maria Olazabal shot an 8-under 64 in the second round and is third at 135.
Algarve Open
PORTIMAO, Portugal – Defending champion Paul Broadhurst shot a 3-under 69, extending his lead to two strokes halfway through the Algarve Open.
The 40-year-old Englishman made up for three bogeys with six birdies to go 11-under.
Frenchman Christian Cevaer trailed with a 69 at the Le Meridien Penina course in southern Portugal.
Christian Nilsson of Sweden (71) was another shot back, followed by countrymen Jarmo Sandelin (70) and Matthias Eliasson (67), who finished four shots behind the leader.
Broadhurst, who hasn’t won a title since his win in Portugal last year, equaled the course record with a 64 for a one-stroke lead after the first round.
Blue Agave Golf Classic
PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – Scott Simpson shot a 5-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead over Champions Tour veterans Gil Morgan and David Eger after the opening round at the Blue Agave Golf Classic.
Simpson putted well to post a bogey-free round with five birdies. Starting on the back nine, he dropped a 9-iron to 2 feet from the pin on the par-4 13th and tapped in for birdie.
Morgan, who has 23 Champions Tour victories, notched six birdies and a pair of bogeys to finish at 4 under. He was even with Eger, who had five birdies and a bogey.
Six players were tied at 3 under, including 10-time Champions Tour winner Allen Doyle.