Golf Roundup : Struggling Beth Daniel Shoots 69 for a Share of Lead

Beth Daniel, in search of the touch that made her one of the LPGA’s premier golfers in the 1980s, shot a three-under-par 69 Saturday to share the lead with Heather Drew, Coleen Walker and Missie Berteotti in the $300,000 Henredon golf tournament at High Point, N.C.

Daniel, with 14 career victories in eight years but none since 1985, has a two-round total of 139. Drew also shot a bogey-free 69 in the hot and humid conditions at Willow Creek Golf Course.

Walker shot a 71 for her share of first place, which is worth $45,000, and Berteotti had three birdies on the back nine en route to a 67.

Daniel was at six under par through 15 holes and missed raising that score when her five-foot putt for birdie at 15 rimmed the cup. Her tee shot at the par-3, 16th hole landed in a sand trap, and after blasting out, she had to two-putt from 12 feet for bogey. She went out in regulation.

“I have not been in contention too often this year, and it’s just nice to be in contention for a change,” Daniel said. “I started feeling a little like the Beth Daniel I used to know.”

Daniel said she is not focusing on winning but merely trying to boost her confidence with a good finish on the 6,244-yard course, which was drenched by three hours of rain Friday, thus washing out the second round and shortening the tournament to 54 holes.

“This is the best life in the world when you are playing well,” Daniel added. “It’s the worst when you’re playing bad. I can definitely say I’ve learned a lot through this experience.”

First-round leader Shelley Hamlin was one of those golfers who had a grip on the lead with a seven-under-par total through 12 holes, only to lose touch with a double-bogey 5 on her 17th hole to surrender any chance of keeping the lead for herself. Hamlin is at 140.

Also at 140 is Beth Solomon, who was also six under par through 12 holes but bogeyed two of the next three holes and came with a 70; Kristi Albers after a 66; Laurie Rinker, Sherri Steinhauer, Mary Beth Zimmerman and Martha Foyer.

Chi Chi Rodriguez finished with three birdies for a six-under-par 66 and a four-stroke lead after two rounds of a $250,000 seniors tournament at Concord, Mass.

Rodriguez, seeking his sixth victory on the PGA Seniors Tour this season, was at 131, a tournament record, after 36 holes.

Harold Henning, who shared the first-round lead with Rodriguez, was at 135 after shooting a 70 on the Nashawtuc Country Club course.

Orville Moody was next at 136 after a 69, and Peter Thompson shot a 68 and was at 138.

Roberto DeVicenzo shot a 69 for a 142 total that earned him $8,000 in the 36-hole Super Seniors competition for players 60 and over.

DeVicenzo beat Charlie Sifford by three strokes for his second Super Seniors win this year. Sifford shot a 74 for 145, and George Bayer and Howie Johnson tied at 146.

Brett Quigley of Barrington, R.I., won the first three holes and then held off a determined comeback bid by Bill Heim of New Franken, Wis., to post a 1-up victory and win the U.S. Junior Amateur golf title at Edwards, Colo.

Quigley, 17, made three crucial par-saving putts on the back nine--the final one a five-footer on the 18th green that sealed the triumph.

Quigley also sank a 12-footer at the 13th hole and a four-footer at 16 to halve those holes.