[ GOLF ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
A displeased Michelle Wie received a club from her caddie and father B.J. Wie on the 11th fairway yesterday during the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic in Sylvania, Ohio.
Wie misses cut
at Jamie Farr ClassicThe Honolulu teen fails
to qualify for the weekend
for the first time in five
LPGA appearances
SYLVANIA, Ohio >> Laura Diaz is still waiting to put all of her game together. Watch out if she does.
Diaz was at 132, 10 under par after the second round of the Jamie Farr Classic. She carded a 4-under 67 yesterday to lead Hee-Won Han by three strokes.
Thirteen-year-old sensation Michelle Wie had a 72 and missed her first cut in five LPGA Tour events this year. She started showing the wear and tear of her long summer away from Honolulu.
"By this time, I just want to go home," she said after a round of 1 over par. She still has to play in a Canadian Tour event next week in Brimley, Mich.
Wie's round came apart on No. 17, a par 5 that's one of the longest holes on the 6,408-yard Highland Meadows Golf Club.
She drove her tee shot into the rough on the left side of the fairway and pushed her second shot way right and across a cart path, sending spectators scrambling.
That shot left her directly in the path of four trees.
"What should we do?" she asked B.J. Wie, her father and caddie.
She flicked the ball back onto the fairway and tossed her club aside in frustration. She ended up with a bogey that took away any chance of making the cut.
Her two-round score was 145, and missed it by two strokes.
"I gave it away," she said afterward. "Some days it goes in, some days it doesn't."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Michelle Wie hit from the 12th tee during the second round of the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic yesterday in Sylvania, Ohio.
Diaz was pleased with her long game but not too happy with her putting. It was just the opposite a day earlier when she opened with a 65.
"Hopefully, the next two days I can get them both working," she said.
Diaz felt fortunate on two holes. She managed to birdie No. 5 even after Michelle McGann's ball hit hers on the fairway, and she chipped in on No. 3 to save par.
"It was a really nice surprise and put a nice smile on my face," Diaz said of the third hole.
Han, the hottest golfer on the tour in the last month, said she's been feeling less pressure since winning the Big Apple Classic last month for her first tour victory.
"I've got my confidence and it makes me play well," she said after a 67.
Han also won last week at the Wendy's Championship in Ohio. She birdied two of the first three holes yesterday.
Play was delayed in the afternoon for nearly 2 1/2 hours by a thunderstorm, but by that time most of the leaders were in the clubhouse.
Chris Johnson put together the round of the day to move into contention. She birdied six of the first nine holes and finished with a round of 63, and five shots off the pace.
Her spectacular round started when she made a 20-foot putt to save par on the first hole.
"I've really been working on my putting," she said. "I knew I had to shoot under par to make the cut."
Se Ri Pak, who has won three of the last five Farr Classics, had a 67 and was four shots behind Diaz along with Kelli Kuehne, Marisa Baena and Nicole Jeray. They all shot 68.
Jeray will go into the weekend at 6-under after two straight rounds of 3-under. She said it's the best she's played all year and credited a new putter.
"I'm putting really good," she said. "I'm just rolling it good and giving it a chance."
