Wie in Middle of Spat

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. -- Mhairi McKay continued her hot play Friday during the second round of the U.S. Women’s Open, but things got a little chilly between 13-year-old Michelle Wie and her playing partners at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Despite a triple bogey on her final hole, McKay shot one-under-par 70 for a two-day total of six under and a four-shot lead over defending champion Juli Inkster, Angela Stanford and Hillary Lunke, but her impressive performance was overshadowed by a spat involving Wie.

B.J. Wie, Michelle’s father and caddie, said playing partner Danielle Ammaccapane, 37, bumped into his daughter after Michelle accidentally walked in Ammaccapane’s putting line Thursday during the first round.

After the first round, Ammaccapane pulled Michelle aside in the scoring tent and had what B.J. Wie said were “nasty” words with her. Ammaccapane would not comment Friday. Michelle acknowledged the conversation but did not elaborate on the details.

“I was really surprised, because I guess I’ve always played with really nice people,” Wie said.

Wie, one of 14 teenagers playing this week, shot a second consecutive 73 Friday and made the cut by three shots. She is believed to be the youngest player ever to make a cut at the U.S. Open.

Ammaccapane shot a second consecutive 74 and made the cut by one stroke. United States Golf Assn. spokesman Marty Parkes followed the group Thursday and said he noticed some tension.

On one hole, Wie hit out of turn and several times Tracy Hanson, the third player in the group, asked Wie not to walk ahead of players who have yet to hit. Ammaccapane did not shake hands with Wie after they finished playing Friday.

McKay, 28, from Scotland, stretched her lead to seven shots through 35 holes, but made things a lot more interesting with a triple bogey to finish the second round.

She was at nine under when she teed up on her final hole -- the par-four ninth -- but drove into a fairway bunker and her ball buried. She blasted out onto a hill about 90 feet and had to hack out of a difficult lie in the rough.

The third shot advanced just short of the green. Two chips and two putts later, she carded a seven.

“I don’t feel good about making a triple,” McKay said. “I think the key to playing well at the USGA is avoiding those large numbers, and that’s really what my game plan has been all about.”

Most players have employed the same strategy, though making pars, not birdies, has been the goal for most of the field. McKay has 12 birdies in her two rounds. Inkster is second in the field with eight. Aggressive play, however, is not part of McKay’s plan.

“I’m trying to play some smart golf and always give myself par opportunities,” McKay said. “Fortunately, I have been able to roll in a couple of putts that led to the birdies. I’m just trying to worry about the par first and if a birdie happens, then great.”

Inkster birdied three of her first five holes to get to five under, but a double bogey at No. 8 derailed her, and she finished with a 71. Donna Andrews is at one under and the only other player under par.

Annika Sorenstam made a birdie on her last hole but shot a second consecutive 72 and is eight shots behind.

McKay has been close at the U.S. Open before. In 1998, she began the final round a shot behind Se Ri Pak but shot a 78 and finished seventh. A Stanford graduate, McKay had a class with Tiger Woods while both were students there. She turned pro seven years ago, and won the Australian Open in March for her first professional victory.

Lunke, also a Stanford graduate, said the number of birdies by McKay is amazing.

“There are no easy holes out there,” she said.

Aree Song, 17, led the teenage contingent through the first two rounds. Song shot 73 Friday and is seven shots behind McKay. Morgan Pressel, 15, followed her opening 70 with a 78 and is 12 shots behind. Seven of the teenagers made the cut, which fell at seven-over 149.

Irene Cho, 18, who will be a sophomore at USC in the fall, and Jane Park, 16, who just completed her sophomore year at Beaumont High, are among those who will play the weekend. Among the notables who missed were Karrie Webb, Laura Davies and Pat Hurst.

Pak made a bogey on the final hole but made the cut on the number.