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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Monty leads Daly, field after struggle

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

Colin Montgomerie and John Daly would seem to have little in common except for their names atop the leaderboard at the American Express Championship in San Francisco.

Montgomerie plots his way around the golf course, and while Friday was a battle with jet lag, he scrambled well enough for a 1-under-par 69 at Harding Park that left him one shot clear of Daly and David Howell of England, with Tiger Woods and five others another shot behind.

“Overall, that’s as good a round of golf as it was yesterday,” Montgomerie said. “It was more of a battle today. I didn’t get off to the flying start I did yesterday, so it was tougher, very much tougher. I’m as glad with that round today as I was yesterday, so I’m still in contention.”

Daly swings for the fences, and he drove the green on a par 4 for the second straight day, this one on the 336-yard 16th as Woods was lining up a birdie putt ahead of him.

Montgomerie and Daly will be in the final group today of this World Golf Championship, along with Howell.

Harding Park, the municipal course with a $16 million makeover, has proven to be a worthy test through two rounds. It allows for good scores, dishes out bogeys with the slightest mistake and has so far kept anyone from running away from the field.

The result was 13 players within three shots of the lead, and 29 players only five shots behind.

LPGA

Dawn Coe-Jones, who hasn’t won on the LPGA Tour since 1995, shot a 5-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over seven players after two rounds of the Longs Drugs Challenge in Auburn, Calif.

Cristie Kerr, who led by four strokes after an opening 62, had a second-round 75 that included a quadruple-bogey 9 on the 485-yard 15th, and was four strokes behind the leader.

Coe-Jones, whose best finish this season was a tie for 26th, changed putters earlier in the week. She had six birdies and was at 133 after 36 holes.

Riko Higashio, who carded a career-best 64, was at 135 with Sherri Steinhauer (65), Heather Daly-Donofrio (66), Nicole Perrot (66) Joanne Morley (67), Lindsey Wright (68) and Beth Daniel (69). Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., (73) has a two-round total of 142.

Champions Tour

Doug Tewell was one of nine players to complete the first round of the rain-delayed Greater Hickory Classic in Conover, N.C., and his 2-under 70 got him the clubhouse lead.

Gil Morgan and Don Pooley were one hole from knocking Tewell out of the top spot when play was to resume this morning. The second round was to immediately follow.

Morgan and Pooley were 4 under through 17 holes when play was stopped after daylong showers eventually overwhelmed the fairways at Rock Barn Golf & Spa.

Keith Fergus (14 holes), John Bland (12 holes) and Wayne Levi (10 holes) were also 4 under when played was called for the day. Among the finishers, Tewell, the defending champion, was one shot in front of former major league pitcher Rick Rhoden, playing on a sponsor’s exemption, and Tom Jenkins.