Stupples surprise leader at Evian
Karen Stupples shot a 6-under-par 66 Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam after the second round of the Evian Masters in Evian, France.
Stupples is at 10-under overall following a round which included seven birdies and just one bogey.
“That was all-around enjoyable,” said Stupples, who will be paired with Sorenstam today. “But I must admit I’m a bit surprised to find myself leading.”
Sorenstam finished with a 69 while Davies, the leader after the first round, eagled the 18th hole for a 71.
Davies bogeyed four of the first five holes, before getting birdies on the seventh and ninth holes.
“Frankly, I considered heading for the beer tent,” she said of her early struggles.
Stupples has been on the tour for four seasons but didn’t win her first title until the Welch’s/Fry’s Championship in Tuscon, Ariz., in March.
At the ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia in February, Stupples shot 70 and 68 in the last two rounds, but Sorenstam came from behind to win by four shots with two 65s.
“That would be lovely to do again. Certainly, I’m playing really good right now,” Sorenstam said, though she felt “a little disappointed how I finished” on Thursday.
“I just hit every lip of every hole today,” she said.
Stupples said she’s aware of what the world’s top player is capable of in later rounds.
“If Annika can win by 20, she will,” Stupples said. “She always wants more. That’s what Australia taught me.”
Teen phenom Michelle Wie shot her second straight 1-under 71 and was tied for 26th.
“Today was the best and worst round of my life,” said Wie, who had six birdies and five bogeys.
She also confirmed she would not play the British Open next week. As an amateur, Wie is permitted six sponsor invitations — and said she has already planned those six.
U.S. Women’s Open champion Meg Mallon shot a 69 and was six shots off the lead at 140. That is also where Wendy Ward, Edwall, Wash., stands. Defending champion Juli Inkster had a 73 and is tied for 28th at 1-over 143.
Eight tied for PGA lead
Eight players shot 6-under 65s and were tied for the lead after the first round of the U.S. Bank Championship at Milwaukee, matching the PGA Tour record. Another 10 golfers were one shot back in the tournament formerly known as the Greater Milwaukee Open.
Danny Briggs, Todd Fischer, Bo Van Pelt, Brett Quigley, Patrick Sheehan, Brian Kortan, Robert Gamez and Olin Browne were all tied for first at Brown Deer Park.
Romero takes British Sr. lead
Eduardo Romero, who turned 50 five days ago, had a 5-under 69 and shared the first-round lead at the Senior British Open at Portrush, Northern Ireland. He is tied with Don Pooley, John Chillas and Jim Rhodes.
Defending champion Tom Watson had a 75 despite an eagle on the second hole at the Royal Portrush links.
Harman looks to match Tiger
At San Francisco, defending champion Brian Harman survived a difficult second-round match and advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur Championships.
Harman, 17, is hoping to join Tiger Woods as the only players to win consecutive titles at the event. Woods won three straight from 1991-93.
Second-seeded Matt Savage easily won his second-round match and 14-year-old David Chung made a 40-foot putt on the final hole to advance. Quarterfinals and semifinals are today, with the championship on Saturday.
Granada, Creamer set for rematch
At Fort Worth Texas, medalist Julieta Granada and top-ranked junior Paula Creamer each won two matches to set up their rematch at the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur.
Creamer beat Granada last year. Today’s other semifinal has Jane Park against Hsiao-Ching Lu. The championship is Saturday.