Lonard Struggles, Clarke Takes Control At Harbour Town

Darren Clarke shot his second straight 65 to take a commanding lead at the MCI Heritage.

Darren ClarkeAll the golfers at the MCI Heritage forgot to tell Darren Clarke that the course was playing pretty tough on Friday. He carded six birdies and zero bogeys in the second round to take a six-shot lead into the weekend. His total of 12-under par after two rounds is only one off the record set by Jack Nicklaus in 1975. Clarke attributes his great play at this golf course to just feeling comfortable. “I knew I liked the golf course and that’s why I’ve kept coming back,” he said. “It’s easier to play on a golf course you’re comfortable on than one that you’re not. I’m enjoying myself and playing pretty solid golf.”

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Ward Does Double Digits at the Takefuji

Wendy Ward, battling it out with the top LPGA professionals, snatched the lead from her fellow competitors today at the second round of the Takefuji Classic. Karrie Webb, who tied Ward in opening round action, is currently tied for second.

WendyWard.jpgWith an unfortunate bogey start to an otherwise exciting round, Wendy Ward finished happily today with a 4-under 68, putting her in sole possession of the lead (-11). Playing comfortably today, Ward spread out her five birdies over the course of the round. When asked about her eight-par beginning to the round Wendy stated “You have to stay aggressive on this course. I didn’t give myself any opportunity. I was hitting crooked off the tee. I was making some really good saves but that doesn’t jump you ahead.”

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Lonard Goes Low at MCI Heritage Amid Windy Conditions

Peter Lonard completes the round of his life to take the lead during the first round of play at the MCI Heritage.

Peter LonardHarbour Town Golf Links is the site of this year’s MCI Heritage. None of the world’s top ten players are competing in this event and I’ve got a hunch that no one in this year’s field is missing any of them.

There is a good chance that no one in the top ten could have bettered Peter Lonard’s performance today as he posted an impressive 9-under 62. If Lonard hadn’t had a bogey on the first and last holes he’d have some bragging rights as he was only one stroke off the course record of 61. His eleven birdies in one round aren’t too shabby and it was good enough for the lead. In his four years on the PGA Tour, Lonard’s only PGA win came in 2003 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at La-Costa.

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First Round Action at the Takefuji Classic

With winds howling and branches literally falling off the trees, the 2005 Takefuji Classic began from Las Vegas, Nevada. The early tee times got a bad break today starting their rounds with savage winds in opening round action.

karriewebb.jpgThe 2005 Takefuji Classic in Las Vegas started out this morning with winds howling and branches literally falling off the trees. The early tee times got a bad break today with savage winds in opening-round action. As fair skies moved in both Wendy Ward and Karrie Webb shot opening rounds of 7-under 65 to share the lead.

Webb was disappointed with her early-round action. “I got off to a bit of a shaky start. I bogeyed the first. I made about a 6-footer for par. Well, I bogeyed 10. I made a six-footer for par on 11.” Once she got comfortable, Karrie knew it. “When I made birdies at 13 and 14 I finally settled into the round and played a really good back nine which was obviously the front nine for me” said Webb, speaking of starting her round on the tenth hole.

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Vistoso Golf School

Vistoso Golf Club has a great golf school. Book through tucsongolf.com for a great golf package.

VistosoForum member Rafcin recently visited the Vistoso Golf Club for a three-day golf school. Here is his report.

Booked Through: www.tucsongolf.com
Location: Tucson, AZ
Course: The Vistoso Golf Club
Dates: April 1st through 3rd (Fri-Sat-Sun)

Daily Schedule:

8:00 - 9:00           Breakfast, Meet the Pro
9:00 - 12:00          Lessons
12:00 - 1:00          Lunch
1:00pm - dusk         Unlimited Golf

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Yes! Olivia Mallet Putter Review

Yes! putters have a fanatical following, and now they’ve got some new toys: removable weights in a classic mallet putter. Sink more putts and sound unique doing it? You bet.

Yes Golf LogoI’m a mallet fan. I rated the Titleist/Scotty Cameron Red X highly and I’ve really been enjoying Titleist/Cameron’s new Future Phantom Mallet (review coming soon). But recently, I’ve been carrying another putter around in my bag: the Olivia from Yes! Golf.

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MCI Heritage Preview

Davis Love III is looking to win for a sixth time at Harbour Town.

MCI Heritage LogoThe Masters is now in the past as far as the tournament itself goes, but the memories of Sunday afternoon will stick with the fans for much longer. Davis Love III chipped in at 16 in the final round of The Masters once, but his memories are likely to be far stronger at this week’s PGA Tour stop at Hilton Head for the MCI Heritage. Davis Love III has won five times here, after all.

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Cristie Kerr Vying for First Victory of 2005

After a two-week hiatus, the LPGA travels to Las Vegas for the 54 hole, 2005 Takefuji Classic. With a $1.1 million purse a full field, expect to see an exciting tournament. Cristie Kerr, last year’s champion, will defend her title during the three-day event.

LPGACristie Kerr, the number two ranked LPGA golfer on the 2005 ADT Money List, attempts to defend her title for the second straight year this week at the Takefuji Classic. Kerr went into the final round of last year’s competition with a 4-shot lead but watched it slip away as Seol-An Jeon carded a 69 to force a sudden death playoff. Seven holes later, a struggling Kerr finally won the tournament for her second win on tour. Currently 22nd in overall career winnings (4 million) and with four starts this season but no victories, can Kerr break through and win this week?

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Hootie’s Balls

The Masters is past, but there is still an important subject to discuss that cropped up before last week’s action at Augusta. Should Hootie Johnson get to tell the players what ball they should use?

Masters BallAnother mesmerizing major championship week has passed, but the Masters is still on my mind. So before we start looking ahead to the U.S. Open, I’d like to spend a little time talking about a topic that now seems to resurface every year at Augusta.

It’s the delicate subject of Hootie’s balls. No, you’re right, that doesn’t sound good. It shouldn’t. And I really wish he’d stop talking about them.

The Masters always brings a mix of the sublime and the ridiculous. The 2005 playing of this great event had both. The ridiculous quotient was achieved by Augusta National Chairman Hootie Johnson before the tournament even started. Good thing Tiger Woods and Chris DiMarco provided such a sublime finish to the actual event to help us momentarily forget some of the silly things Hootie had to say.

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