Haas Loves His State and His Two-Shot Lead

Jay Haas’ love affair with his home tournament continued Friday after his second 66 gave him a two-stroke lead midway through the MCI Classic at Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Haas, who lives in Greenville and met his wife, Janice, here 21 years ago, chipped in for birdie on the fourth hole and followed with an eagle chip on No. 5.

“I remember when I was about 12, I chipped three in a row one time. It doesn’t happen that often,” said Haas, who was at 10-under 132.

Frank Lickliter was next at nine-under after a 66. Glen Day’s second 67 put him another stroke back, and Davis Love was three shots behind Haas with a 68.

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Two-time defending champion Hale Irwin fired his second consecutive four-under-par 68 to take a four-stroke lead after 36 holes in the PGA Seniors’ Championship at Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Irwin made four consecutive birdies on the front nine and has a two-day total of 136.

Larry Nelson birdied the 18th hole for a 71 to put him four shots off the lead. Gil Morgan shot even par for 141 and third place. Jack Nicklaus, the first round co-leader, and 1993 champion Tom Wargo shared fourth at 142.

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Meg Mallon lost what was left of a commanding lead with a double bogey at the 18th hole to fall one stroke behind after two rounds of the Myrtle Beach Classic at Murrells Inlet, S.C.

Defending champion Karrie Webb fired a six-under 66, and Catrin Nilsmark had a 68 to share the halfway lead at 10-under 134. Mallon, whose 11 birdies Thursday tied an LPGA record, was at 135 after struggling to a 73.

Tennis

Marcelo Rios of Chile, the world’s No. 1 player, will sit out next week’s Monte Carlo Open because of an elbow injury, but he is expected to play at next month’s French Open.

Todd Martin defeated Carlos Costa of Spain, 6-2, 6-4, in 70 minutes to move into the semifinals of the Conde de Godo tournament at Barcelona, Spain.

Jan-Michael Gambill upset third-seeded Tim Henman of England, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, and moved into the semifinals of the Japan Open at Tokyo.

Miscellany

Alexi Lalas headed in the only goal in the 14th minute as the New York-New Jersey MetroStars beat the expansion Chicago Fire, 1-0, at Chicago for their first MLS win in four games.

Tremaine Fowlkes, a 6-foot-8 junior forward at Fresno State, announced he is foregoing his final year of eligibility to make himself available for June’s NBA draft.

Boxing returns to the Olympic Auditorium on a regular basis for the first time in nearly a year and a half tonight. In the main event, Intercontinental Boxing Council super-lightweight champion Antonio Diaz (20-2, 15 knockouts) will defend his title against Alberto Cortes (70-7-1, 31 knockouts). The fights begin at 7 p.m.

Meldrick Taylor’s comeback bout was called off after he failed to provide medical tests. Taylor, a former Olympic champion, was to have fought IBC welterweight champ Lonnie Smith on May 16 at Atlantic City, N.J. But Larry Hazzard, commissioner of the state’s Athletic Control Board, canceled the bout. Hazzard said Taylor’s promoters neglected to supply test results he asked for three weeks ago.

James Holyfield, older brother of heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, was sentenced to life in prison for rape, child molestation and other charges in Atlanta. A Fulton County Superior Court judge sentenced James Holyfield, 45, who was convicted last month of the 1995 rape of a 6-year-old child visiting his home.

Bobby Hamilton, who has four top-five finishes in his last five starts at Martinsville, Va., picked up the fifth pole of his NASCAR Winston Cup career, in the opening round of time trials for the Goody’s 500. Hamilton’s Chevrolet got around the track in 20.323 seconds, a speed of 93.175 mph.

Toronto, which lost a bid to stage the Centennial Olympics, was picked as the Canadian candidate to play host to the 2008 Summer Games.

American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who left the European racing circuit two months ago after saying it had become a grind, will return to competition in the United States in May, he said.

Natalie Nakase, The Times Orange County girls’ basketball player of the year, has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, Marina Coach Pete Bonny said.

California retained its NCAA men’s gymnastics championship, beating Iowa and Illinois in the finals at State College, Pa.

Top Olympic kayak hopefuls will compete today in the Western Regional Junior National trials at Kernville, Calif.