Australia's Rachel Teske birdies her way into lead

Rachel Teske had four birdies in a 65 to tie Jean Bartholomew for the lead.
By ROB MEYER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
VIENNA -- At times, momentum can carry a golfer from looking up at the leaders to the top of the mountain.
Take Rachel Teske.
In Friday's round one of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic, Teske shot a 2-under-par 70, placing her in a tie for 10th place on the leader board.
That's good, but not spectacular.
Saturday in round two, Teske birdied the fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth holes en route to a 7-under-par 65. She got par on the same holes in round one.
The momentum from the birdies allowed her to tie Jean Bartholomew for the tournament lead with an 8-under-par 135.
"Obviously, it felt pretty good," she said. "I got some momentum and got some good putts and it carried me through the back nine."
Teske, along with Annika Sorenstam, Jennifer Rosales and Jean Bartholomew, led the field with eight birdies.
Once again, Teske credited her improved play with even more momentum. But this time, it came from her play last week at the McDonald's LPGA Championship.
"I played a lot last week, but I hit the ball really well," she said. "It was probably the first week that I hit the ball really well and it carried on with the momentum."
Australian roots
Saturday, Teske played in the same group as fellow Australian Joanne Mills. The two are longtime friends off the tour, but have not played together since their amateur days.
Mills finished the day one stroke behind Teske, with a 6-under-par 66
Both are in a favorable position to win tomorrow, but Teske finds herself having the slight edge as she is atop the leader board.
"A lot of people are in contention, I guess the pressure is on everyone," she said. "I feel like I'm playing pretty well."
Teske has never won an LPGA event, but has captured two international victories. As part of the Women's Professional Golfers' European Tour in 1995, she captured both the Ladies German Open and the Spanish Open.
The Giant Eagle Classic is Teske's 11th tournament of the year. Her highest finish was third at the McDonald's LPGA Classic earlier this month. Teske's first win of 2002 came after beating Sorenstam in a two-hole, sudden death playoff at the PING Banner Health Tournament.