Leader Pampling shows sturdy bunker mentality
Rod Pampling spent plenty of time in the sand during the second round of the Colonial. So what was he doing from there?
“Making pars,” Pampling quipped after his career-best 7-under-par 63 Friday in Fort Worth, Texas.
And even a couple of birdies.
Pampling was 5 for 5 in sand saves, including his last two holes, to get to 10-under 130 and a stroke ahead of first-round leader Stewart Cink (67), Stephen Ames (66) and PGA Tour rookie Charley Hoffman (66).
“Ball striking-wise, I don’t think it was one of my better rounds,” Pampling said. “But it was right up there in controlling myself and controlling my emotions. I didn’t get flustered.”
On his closing hole, the 408-yard ninth, Pampling hit his tee shot into a left fairway bunker and his approach over the green into more sand before blasting to 6 feet. At the par-3 eighth, he hit a greenside bunker and saved par with an 11-foot putt.
Tim Herron (65), Peter Lonard (66) and Dean Wilson (65), best known at Colonial as Annika Sorenstam’s playing partner three years ago, were two strokes back at 132.
“I’m glad I’m in contention,” Herron said. “Besides the Kenny Perrys, it’s always been a close Colonial. It depends on if Kenny Perry goes off.”
Perry, the defending champion, was six strokes off the lead after five birdies and five bogeys in a round of 70. Perry had record 19-under totals in 2003 and 2005 at the Colonial to win by wide margins.
Fredrik Jacobson matched his career best with a 62, a bogey-free round that was the best of the day. He joined Jim Furyk (67), Arron Oberholser (68), Richard Johnson (65) and Henrik Bjornstad (64) at 7 under.
Two-time Colonial champion Ben Crenshaw, the 54-year-old who returned as part of the tournament’s 60th anniversary, made the cut with a 67 that got him to even par.
LPGA
The only people on the golf course at Wykagyl Country Club had squeegees in their hands. Heavy rain and a saturated course forced LPGA officials to cancel play at the Sybase Classic in New Rochelle, N.Y.
Fifteen players have yet to finish their first round. They are scheduled to do that this morning, with the second round to follow.
“We will finish the first and second rounds, make the cut and then assess the situation for whether we will play 54 or 72 holes,” said Sue Witters, the LPGA’s manager of tournament competitions. “The forecast is a little better for tomorrow.”
Natalie Gulbis, Beth Bauer and Hee-Won Han all carded 3-under 68s Thursday before rain and darkness forced suspension of play.