Funk finds range

He shoots 64, leads by 2 shots

June 27, 2009|Associated Press

A little more rain didn’t faze Fred Funk.

Four days after trudging around rain-soaked Bethpage Black to a last-place finish at the US Open, Funk shot an 8-under 64 yesterday to gain a two-shot lead over Jay Haas and Lonnie Nielsen in the rain-delayed first round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y.

It was Funk’s best round on the Champions Tour since a 63 in the 2008 season opener in Hawaii. Tom Kite, D.A. Weibring, Gary Hallberg, and Andy Bean were tied at 5 under, while Joey Sindelar, Larry Mize, Jeff Sluman, Hal Sutton, Brad Bryant, and Tom Jenkins were another shot back.

A band of thunderstorms halted play for nearly four hours in the afternoon, and 24 players will have to complete their rounds today. Among them are Mike Hulbert, who was at 6 under through 17 holes and Jeff Roth, 5 under through 12.

Funk, at 53 the oldest player to qualify for the US Open and still feeling the effects of the grueling weekend, started slowly. He bogeyed the par-4 second hole at the narrow, tree-lined En-Joie Golf Club course, then rallied with five birdies over the final six holes before the turn. He continued his surge with birdies at Nos. 11, 12, and the difficult, water-guarded 15th hole to reach 7 under.

LPGA - South Korean star Jiyai Shin shot a 4-under 68 for a three-stroke lead at the storm-plagued Wegmans in Rochester, N.Y.

Play was interrupted by thunderstorms for nearly five hours, then called off for the day at 8:37 p.m. Dozens of players will complete their second round this morning.

Shin, seeking her fifth tour win in 11 months, moved to 11-under 133, a record at the demanding Locust Hill course. Morgan Pressel was at 8 under through 13 holes, one better than Kristy McPherson on the same hole. Michelle Wie also was at 7 under through 10 holes.

First-round leader Sandra Gal of Germany shot a 1-over 73 to drop to 7 under.

European - Retief Goosen shot a 4-under 68 for a one-shot lead over Soren Kjeldsen after two rounds of the BMW International Open in Berlin.

John Daly shot 70 for a 144 total, missing the cut by three strokes.

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