[ GOLF ]
Murota leads Pearl;
Wie makes cut
Kiyoshi Murota fired a sizzling 7-under 65 yesterday to seize the lead at the 26th annual Hawaii Pearl Open.
Murota's two-round total of 133 leads Minnesota native Don Berry (68 yesterday) by two strokes and defending champion Greg Meyer (67) by three.
Berry grabbed the early clubhouse lead by shooting a 4-under 68, one of the better rounds of the morning at the 6,787-yard, par-72 Pearl Country Club.
"I played pretty good, I didn't make any bogeys," Berry said. "That's always a good sign. I didn't drive it that great, but I hit my irons good and putted good."
The tournament's afternoon buzz came as teenage phenom Michelle Wie teed off.
Wie, who began the day 2 over par, made a Tiger-like run that dazzled the 300 or so people in her gallery.
"I think I played very well today," Wie said. "A lot of my putts fell in today. I was pretty hot. I had three birdies in a row and was 5 under after eight holes."
Unfortunately, Wie bogeyed No. 9 and just never seemed to regain her momentum.
"I think I got a little bit tired. I think I got a little cold from yesterday."
Despite the late round letdown, Wie finished at 4-under 68, good enough to make the cut, which fell at 3 over. She stands tied with five others for 35th heading into today's final round.
Overall she was happy with her round.
"I was shooting for a 66 or a 68 and I kind of accomplished my goal," Wie said. "I'm glad I made it till tomorrow. Rather than going to the (Punahou) carnival and not make it."
First-round leader Brett Wayment is still in the hunt -- tied for third -- despite shooting what he called a disappointing 2-under 70.
"Couldn't get anything going today," said the pro who plays out of Logan, Utah. "I was kind of tight. I had a lot of pars and a bogey on the last hole, which was a little upsetting.
"I wasn't knocking it close and not putting myself in scoring position. I just didn't give myself enough. On a day like today, you need to make some birdies."
Wayment is tied with Meyer, who has revenge on his mind.
Meyer has a bit of a history with Murota, having lost a sudden-death playoff to Murota for the 1997 Hawaii Pearl Open championship.
"He's a good player and he won't make too many mistakes," Meyer said of Murota. "He's going to birdie the par-5s and one or two somewhere along the line. And I have to hang in there."
Meyer's strategy to win today: "I need to give him some heat and give him some heat early."
Meyer's 5-under 67 came despite the fact that his clubs were stolen earlier in the week. "They stole three sets out of my garage Wednesday evening."
But every cloud has a silver lining for Meyer.
"Gives me a chance to try clubs I might not have tried."
Today's final round begins at 8 a.m. with the final threesome teeing off at 9:48 a.m. Wie tees off at 8:18 a.m.