Three hold Senior British lead

Times wires
Friday, July 22, 2011

WALTON ON THE HILL, England — Americans Mark Calcavecchia and Lee Rinker and Canadian Rod Spittle, a part-time Dunedin resident, had a two-shot lead after the second round of the Senior British Open on Friday.

Calcavecchia, one of three overnight leaders, made six birdies in shooting 3-under 69 and was joined at 7-under 137 by Rinker (67) and Spittle (67).

It's the first time since 2004 that at least three players have held a share of the lead after 36 holes of a Senior British Open.

Peter Fowler (68) was two back, with American pair John Cook (67) and Mike Goodes (70) at 4 under. Tom Watson (68) moved into contention at 1 under, and defending champion Bernhard Langer faded with 76, nine shots off the pace.

Calcavecchia and Rinker live near each other in Jupiter and grew up playing junior golf together. But their careers have taken different paths.

While Rinker doesn't have a career victory, Calcavecchia is best known for winning the British Open at Troon in 1989 and has 12 more wins on the PGA Tour. He is bidding to become the fourth player — after Watson, Gary Player and Bob Charles — to achieve the British Open double.

"That would be awesome company to keep. They're three Hall of Famers. That would be really special," Calcavecchia said.

Rinker sealed his spot at Walton Heath with a top-10 finish last month at Endicott, N.Y.

"It's been a long time since I've been in this position," said Rinker, whose best showings were two second places in 1997. "But my game's been coming along this year. We'll see how I hold up."

PGA: Michael Thompson shot 4-under 66 to tie for the lead with fellow American Chad Campbell (67) at 4-under 136 after the second round of the RBC Canadian Open in Vancouver. Paul Goydos (69) and Lee Janzen (68) had a share of the lead before bogeys on their final hole dropped them one back.

LPGA: Miki Saiki took a one-stroke lead at 9-under 135 after shooting 5-under 67 in the second round of the Evian Masters in Evian-les-Bains, France. Angela Stanford (66), Stacy Lewis (67), Ai Miyazato (68) Maria Hjorth (69) and Ahn Shin-ae (69) were at 8 under. Seminole's Brittany Lincicome (71) was tied for 12th at 5 under.

European: Sweden's Alexander Noren shot 6-under 66 to take a three-stroke lead at 11-under 133 after the second round of the Nordea Masters in Stockholm. American Bubba Watson (67) closed five behind.

U.S. Junior Amateur: Jordan Spieth, who won the event in 2009, beat Adam Ball 7 and 5 to reach today's 36-hole final in Bremerton, Wash. The Dallas resident, who faces Chelso Barrett of Keene, N.H., can join Tiger Woods (1991-93) as the only multiple winners of the event.

Tiger still out: Tiger Woods won't be in the field of 151 players for the Greenbrier Classic next week in White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Woods hasn't played since May 12 when he withdrew after nine holes from the Players Championship with knee and Achilles' injuries.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/three-hold-senior-british-lead/1182058

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