close

Rankin, Kim take charge in Jamie Farr

3 min read

SYLVANIA, Ohio (AP) – Reilley Rankin had just 30 minutes to practice with her new golf clubs before the start of the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic. It may have been the best thing to happen to her.

Rankin, her regular set of clubs lost in travel two weeks ago, shot a 3-under 68 on Friday to get to 8-under 134 and grab a share of the lead with Mi Hyun Kim (66) before heavy rain forced the suspension of second-round play until Saturday.

Natalie Gulbis was 8 under through nine holes before play was stopped.

Se Ri Pak, attempting to match Mickey Wright’s tour record of five victories in one event, and Annika Sorenstam were both 4 under through 11 holes.

Nearly all the holes were swamped and some were at least partially underwater at the height of the storm. A rushing river flowed downhill through the fairway on No. 9.

The course at Highland Meadows Golf Club already was waterlogged from 3 inches of rain that fell Wednesday.

Tournament director Judd Silverman said it was a “long shot” that the course would be ready for play Saturday. “I think that would be optimistic,” he said.

The big concern is that a creek that runs through course could spill over its banks and put the third tee and second green underwater. Crews also need to remove standing water from much of the course.

“There’s no where for the water to go,” Silverman said. “We’ve got big issues out there.”

Seventy-two players were on the course when the rain started. The last groups had only finished four holes.

Sung Ah Yim was 7 under through nine holes. Paula Creamer and first-round leader Liselotte Neumann both were on the course at 6 under.

Gulbis was on a roll on the front nine, making birdies on four of the first five holes.

Karen Weiss, Michelle Estill, Diana D’Alessio and Lorie Kane finished their rounds Friday tied at 6-under 136. Kane birdied her last five holes for a 66.

Rankin’s first two rounds took the sting out of the losing her clubs. She got a new set after some scrambling by her supplier at Nike.

“I like them better than my old clubs,” she said.

Even her bag was embroidered with the name “Jeff.” “I think I’ll be Jeff the rest of the week,” she said.

Rankin got into trouble on her final hole Friday when her tee shot went into the rough near a creek. She recovered on her second shot to the green, allowing her to save par.

Kim was 5 under for the second round. She hit a 30-foot birdie putt to tie for the lead on No. 18. “I just wanted to two-putt, but the ball went in,” she said.

Weiss finished at 6-under 136 – quite an achievement since it’s her first tournament of the year. “To be able to find my golf ball every time is sort of a treat.”

She decided to play in hopes of qualifying for the Women’s British Open. The top five LPGA Tour members after 36 holes who aren’t exempt for the Open earned spots in the Aug. 3-6 tournament at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

“I just wanted to play one more British Open,” Weiss said.

Estill birdied her final two holes to finish at 6-under 136. She nearly scored an eagle on her third shot at No. 17. “It must have touched the hole,” she said.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $4.79/week.

Subscribe Today