Miyazatos atop Women's Open leaderboard
Mika Miyazato of Japan tees off on the par-three 16th during the delayed second round of the Women's U.S. Open golf tournament at the Broadmoor Golf Club. (July 9, 2011) Credit: AP
Though they are not related, they have an awful lot in common. A hometown. A last name.
And now, a tee time together with a major championship in their grasp.
Mika and Ai Miyazato finished 1-2 after the second round of the U.S. Women's Open Saturday in Colorado Springs, setting up a third-round pairing for the two golf prodigies from Okinawa, Japan. That third round was postponed until Sunday after thunderstorms raked the area for the third straight day.
Mika shot 4-under-par 67 to take the lead at the halfway point at 5-under 137. That was one shot ahead of Ai, who is four years older than Mika and leads her 6-0 in the LPGA Tour win column.
No wonder, then, that Mika has no problem when people mix the two up every once in a while.
"Everybody thinks we're sisters," Mika said. "That way, everybody can remember me, because Ai is playing great."
After the second round was completed, the USGA attempted to get the third round going, but only a few players got on the course before it was suspended. The Miyazatos were grouped with South Korea's I.K. Kim. The tournament is scheduled to finish Sunday, but since nearly the entire third round needs to be completed, that will be a dicey proposition. Kim, who went home Friday night with the second-round lead, returned for four holes and finished two shots behind at 3 under.
Amateur Kelly Shon, who played her high school golf for Port Washington, just missed the cut with rounds of 74-76.
Stricker closing in on third straight Deere win
Steve Stricker assumed a familiar spot atop the John Deere Classic leader board, shooting 8-under 63 to go up by two strokes after three rounds in Silvis, Ill. Stricker knocked in a 75-foot birdie putt on the first hole and went on to post his best round of the year while closing in on his third straight victory in the tournament. He's at 20-under 193 following a par save on 18, where he twice hit into bunkers before drilling a 15-foot putt. Brendon de Jonge is alone in second at 195 after a 63. Chez Reavie, who started the day two strokes up on Stricker, shot 68 and was 17 under. -- AP
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