Spectators might be stuck in mud, but scores aren't

Friday, the leader shot 4 under par; Saturday, 10 scores were better than that.
By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- Squaw Creek Country Club was just as wet and soggy Saturday as it was Friday for the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, but the scores improved drastically for the professionals.
The No. 1 women's player in the world, Annika Sorenstam, shot a 7-under-par 65 in her second trip around the golf course -- and she wasn't even in the lead.
Jean Bartholomew, an LPGA pro since 1996 and a resident of Garden City, N.Y., and Rachel Teske of Queensland, Australia, share the second-round lead and tied the tournament record with 8-under-par 64s on Saturday.
The players still slopped around the golf course, and some said the course seemed even wetter than it did Friday.
A slight overnight rain hit the course, but fortunately the heavy rains that were all around the area missed Squaw Creek.
"We got about .15 of an inch [Friday] night," said Lou Greco, Squaw Creek greens superintendent. "This is the worst I've ever seen it here."
In 1990, the final round of the tournament was suspended by a heavy rain and had to be completed Monday.
"It was bad for that one day, but this has been all week here," Greco said.
In Friday's opening round, the leader, Minny Yeo, shot a 4-under-par 68, and seven other golfers shot 69; but on Saturday, there were 10 scores lower than 68.
Without any rain during the day, the crowds were even better than Friday, which was considered one of the best Friday crowds of the year, according to the LPGA.
The condition of the golf course for the players was much better than the condition of the area that spectators have had to muddle through all week.
Boots -- the kind worn in the winter -- were the most appropriate apparel for this tournament; anyone who didn't have them likely wished they did.
Almost all the public parking was moved to Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, and the spectators were bused to the tournament.
Those who did brave the closer lots found themselves stuck deep in mud and had to be either pushed or towed out.
Today's final round will begin at 8 a.m. with the top 73 players who survived Saturday's cut at 1-over-par 145. They will compete in the final 18 holes to determine the champion and the recipient of the $150,000 first-place check.