13-year-old misses cut, but still champ

When her family moved from a spacious house into a tiny townhome, Dakoda Dowd gave more than 100 of her golf trophies away, saying she didn’t need to keep them.

She added one to her collection Friday – and it’s not going anywhere.

Adding to what her cancer-stricken and terminally ill mother, Kelly Jo Dowd, called “the perfect week,” the 13-year-old golf prodigy and her family received a replica of the winner’s trophy on the 18th green early Friday evening after finishing her second round at the Ginn Clubs & Resorts Open in Reunion, Fla.

Dakoda – who shot an 82, eight shots higher than her Thursday score – missed the cut by eight strokes.

Nobody minded, of course.

“My dream came true out here,” Kelly Jo said. “I saw my girl play with these amazing women.”

The teen was invited to play after event organizers learned that Kelly Jo – who doctors say may only have months to live – wanted to see her daughter play against the pros once in her lifetime. So Ginn organizers offered a sponsor’s exemption.

Mi Hyun Kim, with a total of 8-under-par 136, leads the tournament by a stroke over Lorena Ochoa.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, who played in Dowd’s group, is at 146 and Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., is at 148.

PGA

Joe Durant made eight birdies on his way to an 8-under 64 that gave him a two-shot lead over Brett Wetterich going into the weekend of the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. Durant is at 12-under 132.

Champions Tour

Tom Kite birdied the final hole for a 4-under 68 and a share of the first-round lead in FedEx Kinko’s Classic in Lakeway, Texas. Kite, who is winless in Texas in 108 PGA and Champions Tour starts, is tied with Jay Haas, Bruce Fleisher, Craig Stadler, Curtis Strange and David Edwards.