[ TURTLE BAY CHAMPIONSHIP ]
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tom Kite celebrated after sinking a putt on the 18th hole during the second round of the Turtle Bay Championship yesterday in Kahuku. At 6 under, Kite has a two-stroke lead over Rex Caldwell.
Kite sails to top
of leaderboard
It's hard to imagine a Texan named Tom Kite not liking the wind.
While his cohorts crash-dived on the blustery Arnold Palmer-designed course, Kite flew to the top of the $1.5 million Turtle Bay Championship leaderboard yesterday with an array of wind-friendly shots. His second-round 67 left him at 6 under for the tournament, two swings removed from little-known Rex Caldwell.
Caldwell began the day tied for the lead with defending champion Hale Irwin and 2003 MasterCard Championship winner Dana Quigley at 4 under. No one in the final group broke par yesterday, but all three birdied the 18th to finish in red figures through 36 holes.
In only his sixth tournament of the year, Caldwell is alone in second at 4-under 140. Irwin and Quigley, who survived adventurous second rounds, are tied for third at 3-under 141. Joe Inman is fifth at 2 under for the tourney. The only other golfers to break par after 36 holes were Ed Fiori (70-143), James Mason (71-143), Tom Purtzer (72-143) and Bob Gilder (74-143).
"There's still a lot of golf to be played," a conservative Kite maintained. "You know the wind is going to be blowing again tomorrow, so a high number can happen anywhere along the way. But if feels good to be in the lead."
Kite is no stranger of the tradewinds. He won the 2002 MasterCard Championship at Hualalai on the Big Island and grew up striking the golf ball on the windy plains of Texas. But as well as he plays in high-knot conditions, Irwin is still the man to watch over today's final 18 holes.
He has won both tournaments held here and has two other victories in this event at the 1997 and 2000 Kaanapali Classics on Maui. Battling a bad back and a head cold, Irwin shot a 3-over 39 on the front side and went as high as even-par with a bogey on the 11th, but played 3 under over the final seven holes to stay close to the lead.
Irwin could have pushed into a tie for second with Caldwell, but pulled a 6-foot eagle putt on the 18th to settle with what he felt was a disappointing birdie. He angrily swiped his club over the 18th putting surface, before tapping in for a 1-over 73. Playing partner Quigley also found himself all over the course.
Like Irwin, he struggled on the front side. His bogey on the ninth led to a 5-over 41. At plus-1 for the tourney, Quigley birdied four times on the back to finish with a 1-over 73. If he can survive the front side today, don't be surprised if he challenges for not only his second win of the year, but second victory in Hawaii as well.
Kite is still looking for his first win in 2003. He has three runner-up finishes the last half of the season and is playing as well as anyone on the Champions Tour. It will take a good round of golf to win this tournament on the demanding 7,044-yard course and Kite has the game to do it.
"This is one of the best golf courses we have on the Champions Tour," said Kite, who was one of three golfers to shoot in the 60s yesterday. "It would be good without any wind. But of course we're on the north coast of Oahu, so we're always going to have wind.
"I think to play well in the wind you have to have a combination of the two (good attitude and technique). You really have to have a good attitude to play in conditions like these (high winds and blowing rain). You're going to have to expect some errant shots and go from there. I think a lot of it has to do with course management. I've really been able to hang in there after hitting some errant shots."
Kite didn't wander too far afield all day, finishing with seven birdies and two bogeys. This is the first time he has played this course, but he said lack of familiarity hasn't hurt him in the past. It was the first time he played the Big Island course as well when he won the 2002 MasterCard.
"And the wind howled all three of those rounds, too," said Kite, who has won four of six Champions Tour events when leading after 36 holes. "It's a great golf course. It's designed to let you play in difficult wind conditions."
Caldwell couldn't agree more, but he's not sure he belongs on the same greens as Kite and Irwin. He was so sure he'd be done early today, he scheduled a flight for tonight to try to qualify in San Antonio for the SBC Championship. It looks like he will miss his flight to the Lone Star State.
"And that's fine with me," said Caldwell, who is 99th on the money list. "I'm as surprised as anyone to be in second place. I don't have any visions of winning the tournament, but if I can get the ball rolling on these greens, I have a chance."
