Rain Subsides; Ames Takes Lead

L.A. Times Archives

Sept. 18, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

With the sun setting and temperatures cooling rapidly, Stephen Ames of Trinidad moved to six under par Friday to take the lead early in the second round of the rain-delayed B.C. Open at Endicott, N.Y.

Ames overtook first-round co-leaders Peter Jacobsen and Bradley Hughes by fashioning a four-under 68 in the first round, then carding birdies on two of the six holes he completed in the second round before darkness fell.

“It’s tough. It makes for a long day,” said Ames, who has only played 12 tournaments this year because of visa problems and missed the cut in his last three. “And tomorrow is going to be another long day again because we’re going to finish, make a cut, and go back out and play again.”

Hughes and Jacobsen each shot 67s in their first and only round of the day. They were tied with Russ Cochran, who had completed six holes on the second round when play was halted.

Phil Mickelson, Lanny Wadkins, Chip Beck, defending B.C. Open champion Chris Perry and Brandt Jobe were another stroke back.

Rain forced postponement of the first round on Thursday after about two hours of play. Play resumed at 8 a.m. Friday, and by the afternoon the golfers were playing under blue skies and puffy white clouds.

Alberto Giannone, a native of Argentina playing his first year on the Senior PGA Tour, shot an eight-under 64 and held a one-stroke lead over Bud Allin in the Bank One Championship at Dallas.

Giannone, who worked as a postman and a newspaper delivery man in Argentina, had never been to the United States before finishing third at the tour’s qualifying school last December. He does not speak much English and relies on his wife, Alexandra, to interpret for him.

He showed his comfort level in the United States is rising with the impressive first round at Bent Tree Country Club in Dallas.

Giannone, who entered the tournament ranked 78th on the senior tour in putting, needed only 20 putts. He had birdies on six of the first seven holes and made the turn in six-under 30 on the way to his best round of the year.

Helen Alfredsson topped off a stellar 65 with an eagle on her last hole and held a two-shot lead over Catriona Matthew in the Safeco Classic at Kent, Wash.

Alfredsson’s seven-under round gave her a two-day total of 134.

Matthew shot a three-under 68 to leave her one stroke ahead of Michelle McGann, Wendy Doolan, Maria Hjorth and Leslie Spalding.

Defending Safeco champ Annika Sorenstam shot a 70 for 141 on the 6,198-yard Meridian Valley Country Club course south of Seattle.

In Front

Leaders through Friday’s play (Complete scores, Page 13):

B.C. OPEN--Par 72

Bradley Hughes: 34-33--67 -5

Peter Jacobsen: 34-33--67 -5

Bobby Wadkins: 34-34--68 -4

Chip Beck: 35-33--68 -4

Phil Mickelson: 35-33--68 -4

Stephen Ames: 35-33--68 -4