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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Stricker sets 36-hole record at John Deere

Ai Miyazato waits to hit her second shot on the first hole during Friday’s second round of the rain-interrupted U.S. Women’s Open. (Associated Press)

Golf: As he chatted about his day at the John Deere Classic, Steve Stricker was reminded that he now held the tournament’s 36-hole record.

“So far,” he said with a smile.

Stricker had good reason to be cautious because Paul Goydos, who had sent a buzz through the golf world by shooting the fourth 59 in PGA Tour history on Thursday, was just starting his round in Silvis, Ill.

But the deft putting touch that had put Goydos in golf’s most exclusive club deserted him Friday and he settled for a 68, leaving him one stroke behind Stricker, the defending champion, heading into today’s third round.

“Reality kicked in today,” Goydos said.

Stricker, who almost matched Goydos with a 60 in Thursday’s round, came back with a solid 5-under par 66 for a two-day total of 126, which is 16 under at the TPC Deere Run. The old 36-hole record was 127 by David Frost in 2000, the first year the tournament was played at Deere Run.

Jeff Maggert, Matt Jones and George McNeill were tied at 11-under 131.

Mickelson misses chance for No. 1: Phil Mickelson’s latest chance to go to No. 1 in the world ended like his first opportunity two months ago – he missed the cut in the Scottish Open in Luss, Scotland.

Mickelson hit three tee shots on the 18th hole midway through his second round on his way to a quintuple-bogey 9. He never got those shots back in his round of 3-over 74, missing the cut by one shot.

Darren Clarke opened a three-shot lead in the tournament. He chipped in for birdie on the tough 16th and holed a series of 20-foot birdie putts on the front nine for a 4-under 67, giving him the lead over Edoardo Molinari, who had a 69.

Women’s Open drenched: Heavy rain that began with 100 of the 156 golfers still to begin or complete the second round caused play to be suspended for the day at the U.S. Women’s Open in Oakmont, Pa.

Play will resume at this morning at 4:30 PDT at Oakmont Country Club, with the third round to begin with threesomes teeing off at 11:30 a.m.

Sophie Gustafson was the leader on the course at even par when play was halted, but she had completed only one hole of the second round.

Cristie Kerr, coming off her 12-stroke victory in the LPGA Championship two weeks ago, and first-round leader Brittany Lang were the clubhouse leaders at 1-over 143. Kerr shot an even-par 71 on Friday and Lang followed her opening-round 69 with a 3-over-par 74.

Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., completed two holes Friday and is in a seven-way tie for second place.

Two Volunteers arrested in bar brawl

College football: Two Tennessee players were charged during an early-morning bar brawl that left an off-duty police officer who tried to break up the fight knocked unconscious, and more could be facing charges, police in Knoxville, Tenn., said.

Incoming freshman receiver Da’Rick Rogers was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, Knoxville police said. Sophomore defensive back Darren Myles Jr. was charged with assault, resisting arrest and evading arrest, University of Tennessee police said.

Tennessee coach Derek Dooley dismissed Myles from the team and indefinitely suspended sophomore linebacker Greg King and sophomore defensive tackle Marlon Walls, though it was not clear what their alleged roles were in the matter.

A campus police report said Myles tried to hide under a car and in some bushes as an officer tried to arrest him, then elbowed the officer in the face. It was the second off-season arrest for Myles, 19. He also was charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest on April 18 after a disturbance at a Knoxville restaurant and nightclub.

Turpin died of self-inflicted gunshot

Miscellany: A coroner’s report says former Kentucky basketball star Melvin Turpin died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The report gave no other information about the investigation. Fayette County (Ky.) Coroner Gary Ginn had said Thursday that Turpin took his own life in his Lexington house, but didn’t say how.

Turpin starred for Kentucky from 1980-84. He also played in the NBA for Washington and Cleveland.

Oregon’s Altman still without contract: Introduced as Oregon’s men’s basketball coach in April, Dana Altman still doesn’t have a formal contract with the university.

Interim athletic director Lorraine Davis told the Oregonian newspaper that the university and Altman’s agent are exchanging paperwork and the contract will be done soon.

Vancouver Games over B.C. budget: British Columbia says it spent $895 million to host the Vancouver Olympics and Paralympic Games.

That’s $155 million more than the official Olympic budget of $740 million.

The provincial budget is distinct from money spent by the Olympic organizing committee on the games. A final tally of those figures is expected in the fall.