GOLF ROUNDUP : Rarick Is Leader in LPGA Championship

Cindy Rarick shot a four-under-par 67 on Friday to emerge from a pack atop the leader board and take a one-shot lead after the second round of the LPGA Championship at Bethesda, Md.

Rarick, who started the day in a 10-way tie for the lead, had five birdies to move to seven-under 135. She has never finished better than fourth in a major tournament during a nine-year career.

“So far, my performances in majors haven’t been that great, but I really played consistently today,” Rarick said. “I believe I have the capabilities of winning this tournament.”

Patty Sheehan, Cathy Johnson-Forbes and Jenny Lidback were one shot back at 136.

Jan Stephenson and defending champion Betsy King were among five players at 138.

Although no one bettered her 68 in the opening round, Rarick was virtually lost in a logjam of big names that included Sheehan, Nancy Lopez and the year’s leading money winner, Trish Johnson.

“Yeah, the media picked out Lopez, Sheehan and Trish--that’s understandable,” Rarick said. “All I’m trying to do is the best I can, and if my best is good enough, then the press will eventually write about me.”

Lopez and Johnson each shot 73 to fall well off the pace. Amy Alcott and Pat Bradley missed the cut of 145 by two strokes.

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A hard-earned round of par-71 was enough to give Tom Kite a share of the lead at the halfway point of the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y.

Kite, who will defend his U.S. Open title next week at Baltusrol in nearby New Jersey, had to battle back from a double-bogey disaster to stand three-under-par after two rounds. His two-round total of 139 left him tied with Jeff Maggert and Duffy Waldorf.

“Baltusrol’s going to look pretty darn easy after this,” Kite said.

Deep rough, gusty winds and fast greens took a toll on the field in the highest-scoring Buick Classic in history.

Only eight players were under par, and a score of 147--the highest cut figure in the 27-year history of the tournament--was good enough to qualify for weekend play.

But even that big number wasn’t enough to help the likes of Paul Azinger, John Daly and Spaniard Seve Ballesteros. All missed the cut.

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Kermit Zarley, George Archer and Dave Stockton shot five-under par 65s to share a one-stroke lead after the opening round of a senior tournament at Belton, Mo.

One shot behind was defending champion Gibby Gilbert.