Hanson Climbs to the Top of Field With Another 69

Tracy Hanson, who has a great swing and a bad memory, grabbed the second-round lead of the Nabisco Dinah Shore golf tournament just like one of those rocks she likes to climb in her spare time.

Hanson’s second consecutive 69 produced a one-shot lead over Annika Sorenstam, Tracy Kerdyk and Rosie Jones at the midway point of the first women’s major of the year.

For Hanson, a 24-year-old former San Jose State star, it was a surprising, if not forgetful, performance.

Hanson couldn’t remember what iron she hit on one hole she birdied on the front, couldn’t remember her best finish in a major as a pro and wouldn’t talk about how she started on her positive-thinking plan.

Here are the answers: It was a six-iron she hit to the green on No. 13. Her best finish in a major was a tie for 52nd at the 1995 du Maurier Classic and, well, we don’t know that much about the mental pictures she paints.

Instead of maintaining “even cool” on the golf course, Hanson is trying to be continually positive. That’s about where she is right now. Hanson’s six-under-par 138 is good for the lead, and it’s only her third major.

“I don’t think it’s hit me yet,” Hanson said. “I’m excited, but a little nervous.”

When Hanson climbs rocks, she isn’t nervous. She’s cautious, using ropes and pulleys.

Meanwhile, the finger Kerdyk injured Tuesday when her seven-iron got caught in the grass on her swing wasn’t feeling any better. In fact, she said it was aching like a double bogey.

Kerdyk didn’t have any of those, but she did experience the kind of day you usually get right after you buy a ticket on the midway.

She had three birdies, three bogeys, finished at even-par 72, then headed back to see the physical therapists so they could give her hand a hand.

“It really helps to know you’re on the right track and they’re here to help,” Kerdyk said.

Jones also needed some assistance, which she received on the sixth hole. Jones hooked her four-wood left and had to punch her second shot through some palm trees to the green, which she promptly did.

It was almost the same through-the-trees shot Jones had in the first round.

“Now it’s like my favorite shot,” Jones said.

This time, the ball stopped seven feet from the hole. Jones then rolled in the birdie putt. She also wound up making a birdie at the hole Thursday.

With her second-round 67, Jones pulled even with Sorenstam, who could do no better than par at Mission Hills. Sorenstam blamed hard greens, tall rough and a balky golf game.

“It was a little bit of a struggle, I must say,” she said. “It was a tough day for me. I must say I’m not playing well at all. I’m hitting some horrendous shots.”

Sorenstam’s voice was better, even if her golf was not. Her laryngitis had improved to the point where she could finally speak in more than a whisper.

Julie Inkster and Hollis Stacy are two shots behind Hanson at four-under 140. Meg Mallon and Martha Nause are tied at 141.

Laura Davies and Sally Little are in a group of seven at 142 that includes Karrie Webb, Brandie Burton and Dottie Pepper.

Amy Alcott, who was only one shot off the lead after the first round, blew to a 78 and is at 146.

Hanson was the low amateur in the 1991 U.S. Women’s Open when she finished 21st. She also won the U.S. Public Links Championship that year. In 1992, she was a member of the U.S. Curtis Cup team when Europe won.

She was in Hawaii in February and won a pro-am that enabled her to cash a check for $30,000. Even though it doesn’t count as official money, it didn’t matter a lot to Hanson.

“It spends the same,” she said.