Record Round Leaves Kane Tied for Lead

L.A. Times Archives

June 5, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

WEST POINT, Miss. — Lorie Kane developed that contagious smile as a synchronized swimmer in Canada. Of course, playing the U.S. Women’s Open at Old Waverly Golf Club will put a smile on just about anyone.

The Open’s reputation as being the toughest test in golf took another beating Friday when Kane added her name to the record books with an eight-under-par 64 that moved her into a share of the lead with Juli Inkster.

Kane’s 64 tied the Women’s Open record in relation to par set by Helen Alfredsson five years ago and matched by Kelli Kuehne on Thursday.

If that wasn’t enough, Becky Iverson gave Old Waverly another jolt with a 64 of her own in the second round that put her only two strokes off the lead.

“That was a lot of fun,” Iverson said. “I think that for people who play on the LPGA, this is more like just every week you have a tournament. For some of the amateurs who qualify, it’s probably a bigger deal to them.”

Kane and Inkster, who shot a second-round 69, were at 10-under 134 and led by one stroke over Kuehne, who avoided bogey for the second consecutive day but only managed a 71.

The scoring record for the Women’s Open is 10 under set by Alison Nicholas two years ago at Pumpkin Ridge. Topping that shouldn’t be a problem.

“Ten under is not going to win this tournament,” Inkster said. “You’ve got to go out and play aggressive. You’ve got to go out and make some birdies.”

There already have been 100 below-par rounds.

“I think you have to look a lot at the weather,” said Dottie Pepper, who was at seven-under 137 along with U.S. Amateur champion Grace Park, Sherri Steinhauer and Catriona Matthew. “To be that far under par and have only a one-shot lead, I think you’ve got to have a lot of things cooperating.

“Mother Nature is dictating a lot more of this than what has been termed an easy course.”

Anything would look easy compared to last year at Blackwolf Run, where Se Ri Pak and amateur Jenny Chuasiriporn finished 72 holes at six over.

U.S. Women’s Open Leaders

Leaders through Friday’s play, par 72 (Complete scores, Page 12):

Juli Inkster: 65-69--134 -10

Lorie Kane: 70-64--134 -10

Kelli Kuehne: 64-71--135 -9

Becky Iverson: 72-64--136 -8

Grace Park: 70-67--137 -7

Sherri Steinhauer: 68-69--137 -7

Dottie Pepper: 68-69--137 -7

Catriona Matthew: 69-68--137 -7