It’s U.S. vs. Argentina in PGA Tour event
Ben Curtis wore the burgundy and gold of the Washington Redskins. Jose Coceres wore the blue and white of Argentina’s soccer team.
The American football fan took the lead over World Cup football fan Friday when Curtis made a 5-foot birdie putt on his final hole, giving him a one-stroke edge over the only Argentine on the PGA Tour at the midway point of the Booz Allen Classic in Potomac, Md.
Curtis followed his first-round 62 with a 65 at the TPC at Avenel, putting him at 15-under-par and setting a tournament record for best score after 36 holes. The 2003 British Open champion saved par from greenside traps on back-to-back holes before his final birdie.
Curtis and Coceres will play together in the final group today, and Coceres will no doubt be thankful that threatening weather has prompted officials to send the leaders out in the morning. Barring a storm delay, Coceres should finish in time to watch Argentina play Mexico for a spot in the World Cup quarterfinals.
•Phil Mickelson has pulled out of the next week’s ING Par-3 Shootout in Michigan, a usually laid back event that he says he can’t even pretend to have fun at after his collapse at the U.S. Open.
“It’s always about having fun, and I didn’t think it was fair to the event to act like I could have a lot of fun right now,” Mickelson said in a statement.
Champions Tour
Allen Doyle had nine birdies – six on putts of less than 10 feet – in a 7-under 64 that gave him a one-stroke lead over Gil Morgan after the first round of the Commerce Bank Championship in East Meadow, N.Y.
Doyle was the oldest entrant in last week’s U.S. Open and missed the cut by a stroke. The 57-year-old started his round with one of his two bogeys, then started firing at the pins at the 7,011-yard Red Course at Eisenhower Park.
Tom Wargo, Jack Ferenz, Don Pooley and Jim Ahern all had opening 67s..
LPGA
South Korea’s Shi Hyun Ahn shot a 1-under 71 to retain a one-stroke lead after the second round of the Wegmans LPGA in Pittsford, N.Y.
Ahn, who hasn’t won since her LPGA Tour debut in 2003, also led by one after an opening-round 65.
She moved to 8-under 136, just ahead of 20-year-old rookies Seon-Hwa Lee, another South Korean who won the ShopRite Classic three weeks ago, and Brittany Lang, a runner-up at the U.S. Women’s Open last year.
Four-time tour winner Wendy Ward of Edwall, Wash., moved into contention at 6 under after a 68.
Jamie Hullett (67) also was at 6 under, along with Nicole Castrale (69) and Rachel Hetherington (69).
Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum was another shot back with a group at 5 under after firing a 66.