Hurst Shifts Into High Gear In Lpga

With her friends and family providing vocal support, Pat Hurst wanted to do something good in the second round of the LPGA Tour Championship in Las Vegas. She ended up putting on the show of her young pro career.

Hurst, aided by a near tap-in eagle, shot her best score ever Friday, an 8-under 64 that gave her a one-shot lead over Nancy Lopez midway through the 72-hole season-ending tournament.

The score set a women’s course record at the Desert Inn Country Club course, giving Hurst the midway lead on a day when Karrie Webb and Annika Sorenstam also shot low scores to get back into contention.

“It helps when you have people around you rooting you on,” said Hurst, who was followed by a group of about 30 family members and friends, who cheered her every shot. “You want to prove to them you can do it.”

Hurst, a third-year pro, who barely made the field of top 30 money winners, had seven birdies to offset a lone bogey. But it was a 5-wood that she knocked 2 feet from the hole to eagle No. 10 that set the stage for her round.

Hurst tapped in the putt and went on to shoot 31 on the back nine to get to 8-under after two rounds.

“This is definitely my best round,” said Hurst, who had a 65 in this same tournament last year. “I don’t mind doing it here every year.”

Hurst appeared destined to share the lead with Lopez, but an errant iron shot to the 18th green cost Lopez a share of the lead.

Rookie Lisa Hackney, who shared the first-round lead with four others after a 69, was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard.

World Cup of Golf

Colin Montgomerie’s eagle at the 11th hole helped turn an ordinary round into a 6-under 66 to vault Scotland into the lead halfway through the $1.5 million World Cup of Golf in Kiawah Island, S.C.

Montgomerie and Raymond Russell combined for a total of 16-under 272, two better than Ireland and Sweden at the two-man team event.

Davis Love III and Justin Leonard of the United States were three shots back at 275. Germany’s Alexander Cejka is the individual leader at 13-under.

Pebble Beach Invitational

Loren Roberts shot a 68 to take a threeshot lead after two rounds of the Callaway Golf Pebble Beach Invitational.

Roberts was at 12-under-par 132 after 36 holes. John Daly, who also shot a 68, was three strokes back.

Johnny Miller; defending champion Kirk Triplett, a former Pullman resident; and Terry Dill each were five strokes behind at 137.