McLachlin makes cut; Fujikawa misses by two shots

Parker McLachlin lived to play another day. Tadd Fujikawa did not.

Such were the diverse storylines for the two local golfers trying to find their way on the PGA Tour. McLachlin shot a 3-under 69 yesterday at the tougher Magnolia course after opening with a º68 on Thursday at the Palm course. His two-day total of 7-under 137 left him in a tie for 25th, trailing 36-hole leader Scott Verplank by five shots at the Children's Miracle Network Classic.

It is the final PGA Tour stop of 2007 and it left Fujikawa agonizingly close to making his second cut on tour, his first as a professional. Since turning pro this past summer, Fujikawa has missed the cut in every event he's entered. Partnered with McLachlin for the second day, the Moanalua High junior shot an even-par 72. His two-day total of 1-under 143 left him two shots shy of the cut line.

McLachlin is fighting to keep his tour card. He is No. 136 on the money list and needs to finish in the top 125 to have full playing status in 2008. The former UCLA golfer and Punahou graduate must finish in the top five this weekend to have a shot at moving up 11 spots to be eligible for the Sony Open in Hawaii in two months.

Wie among sports-pay elite

Michelle Wie is ranked No. 22 among the top 50 highest-paid American athletes, with yearly earnings of $20.2 million, and is the only woman on the list compiled by Sports Illustrated.

Total compensation includes salary, winnings, bonuses, endorsements and appearance fees based on the current or most recently completed season. NFL compensation is based on the 2007 season. Racing, golf and tennis compensation are based on 2006 calendar amounts.

That's a good thing for Wie because 2007 has not been as kind to the 18-year-old golfer, who recently graduated from Punahou School and is now a freshman at Stanford University. In 2006 she earned $20,235,224. Of that amount, $735,224 was salary and winnings, with the other $19.5 million coming in endorsements, mainly from Nike and Sony.

There were only three golfers on the list, including Tiger Woods, who was first with $111,941,827, and Phil Mickelson. He was No. 3 with $51,256,205. Boxer Oscar De La Hoya was second ($55 million), with NBA players Shaquille O'Neal ($35 million) and Kobe Bryant ($33,718,750) rounding out the top five.