Monday, June 23, 2003
The Aussie fired a 68 for a 7-under 137 in the Rochester LPGA.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -- Rachel Teske, who beat Annika Sorenstam in a playoff last weekend, shot a 4-under 68 Friday and took a two-stroke lead after two rounds of the Rochester LPGA.
"It's been going good -- I guess I've got a little bit of momentum and a little bit of confidence," said the 31-year-old Teske, a six-time winner who has earned $3.1 million since joining the LPGA Tour in 1997.
The native of Australia was at 7-under 137 after two rounds at the tree-lined Locust Hill course.
A.J. Eathorne of Canada had a 71 and was alone in second place. Tied for third at 140 were first-round leader Tina Barrett, who followed her opening 67 with a 1-over 73, and South Korea's Mi Hyun Kim, last year's runner-up, who had a 71.
Won last week
Teske won the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic last Sunday in a four-way playoff. She rolled in an 18-foot birdie putt to beat Lorie Kane, Jennifer Rosales and Sorenstam, who was seeking her third straight win.
Teske had three straight birdies on the back nine. She hit approach shots within 4 feet on No. 12 and 3 feet on 13. She made a 20-foot birdie putt on No. 14.
"Every day is a new day, so we'll kind of see how it goes," she said.
Teske won consecutive tournaments in 1999 at the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship, again by beating Kane in a playoff, and the City of Hope Myrtle Beach Classic.
"I tend to play good in runs," she said.
Steady play
Eathorne's steadiness on the greens compensated for wayward drives.
"I hit just eight fairways -- double the amount of fairways I hit yesterday, which is pretty sad -- but I feel really good over the putter right now," said Eathorne, 27, whose best finish was a tie for third in 1999, her rookie year.
Barrett hasn't won since 1989, her rookie year.
"I struggled a bit today but I'm still right there," said Barrett, who tied for 20th at the LPGA Championship earlier this month.
Kim lost a five-stroke lead in the final round here last year and lost to Webb when she bogeyed the last hole. Webb, a six-time major champion who also won here in 1999, had a 76 and was at 145.
Kim, 26, a five-time winner, has three top-10 finishes this year, her best showing a tie for third at the Kellogg-Keebler Classic earlier this month.
For the third straight year, Sorenstam skipped the $1.2 million tournament, which is sponsored by Wegmans, a grocery store chain.