Laura Diaz beat the bad weather and continued to beat up on the field yesterday in the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic.
Her 67 in the second round lowered her total to 10-under and produced a three-shot lead over Korea's Hee-Won Han, the hottest golfer on the LPGA Tour.
Yesterday's round was suspended at 3:53 p.m. because of lightning in the area. About 40 minutes later, the storm produced steady and sometimes heavy rain that kept the competitors off the course at Highland Meadows Golf Club until play was resumed at 6:15.
The final group completed play in the gloaming at 8:35 and the resulting 36-hole cut came at 1-over-par 143 with 72 golfers advancing to play over the weekend.
Not among them was Michelle Wie, the 13-year-old amateur, who scored a 72 yesterday for a 3-over 145 total.
Under the hot and muggy conditions that preceded the storm, no one was more torrid than 45-year-old Chris Johnson, a 23-year tour veteran who equaled an LPGA record with a 28 on the front nine en route to an 8-under 63.
Johnson, who is playing in the Farr for the 12th time, carded a 64 in 1989, the first year the tournament was held at the Meadows. She bettered that yesterday and rested five shots off the lead entering today's third round.
Han is closest to Diaz's pace with a 67 that left her at 7-under 135. Three-time Farr champ Se Ri Pak was among those another shot back at 136 after producing a 67 despite reportedly suffering from a stomach disorder.
Others at 136 included Kelli Kuehne (68), Nicole Jeray (68) and Marisa Baena, who made the strongest of moves among those who completed their rounds after the weather delay.
“The wind was swirling and the greens were getting dry and really fast before the rain,” Baena said. “I went back out and everything was perfect.”
She responded with birdies on her next two holes, Nos. 4 and 5, and burned the edges with makeable birdie putts the rest of the way in for a round of 68.
Han has been the LPGA's top talent over the past month with two wins and a runner-up finish.
And does she feel good about her chances at the Meadows?
“Oh, yes!” she said.
Han, 25, said her recent success has led to tons of confidence.
“Before I won my first tournament in New York, I kind of felt pressured to win since I was the LPGA's top rookie in 2002,” she said. “Then I won, and now I'm more comfortable and there's no pressure.”
Han was off and running after chipping in from 20 yards off the green for a birdie at No. 1, the first of six on her card.
Diaz, who also posted a 67, did not enjoy such a sizzling start. In fact, she missed putts of 12 and nine feet on the first two holes, settling for pars on both.
Then she produced a chip-in of her own that provided a kick start.
“I popped my 3-wood up off the tee on No. 3, then I hit a skinny 6-iron maybe five yards short of the green, then caught the chip a little too heavy,” she said. “I was going, `sit, sit, sit.' And it sat down right in the hole.
“It put a smile on my face and got some momentum going for the day. I actually hit it better today than [Thursday, when she carded an opening-round 65], but I didn't make as many putts. They don't always go in, but you always hope that if one thing isn't working, something else is.”
Her ball-striking certainly was solid, setting up several birdie putts of less than 10 feet. At the sixth hole, her 9-iron approach from 130 yards hit the pin and bounced six feet away.
On the previous hole, which also resulted in a birdie, the drive of playing partner Michelle McGann hit Diaz's ball in the fairway. After consulting with a rules official, Diaz re-spotted her ball.
“It happens quite often on the putting greens,” Diaz said. “Since most of us have similar target lines off the tee, I guess maybe it's a little surprising this doesn't happen more often on fairways.”
Of the 72 players who made the cut, 43 of them will begin play in today's third round with sub-par totals. Defending champ Rachel Teske is among them, although she struggled to a 1-over 72 yesterday and is six shots off the pace.
First Published August 16, 2003, 12:48 p.m.
