Here’s the thing about golf: Even the legends can look human.
World Golf Hall-of-Famer Annika Sorenstam carded a double-bogey seven on the par-5 17th hole late in the second round of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open Friday, Aug. 21, at Barton Hills Country Club in Ann Arbor.
That late-round slipup cost Sorenstam a chance at the lead heading into the weekend, but the 10-time LPGA major winner remains squarely in contention at 4 under through two rounds. She was three shots back of halfway point leader Michele Redman, who was at 7 under after a second-round 68.
“I had some chances, played a little aggressive there on 17,” Sorenstam said after shooting an even-par 72 in the second round. “Had to take my medicine.”
Sorenstam, the 2021 winner of the U.S. Senior Women’s Open who has finished in the top 10 in her five appearances in this tournament, was tied with fellow Hall-of-Famer Karrie Webb and defending champion Becky Morgan for second place, with two rounds to go over the weekend. Webb and Morgan both shot second-round 69s
Redman had two wins on the LPGA. Sorenstam had 72 and Webb had 41, with seven majors.
They will be paired in the final grouping Saturday morning.
“Perfect,” said Redman, 61, an Ohio native. “That will be fun.
“I don’t know if I need any more motivation. I’m kind of old for that now.”
Sorenstam, 55, was 2 under on her round Friday, driving it better than she did Thursday when she opened with a 4-under 68 to surge to the top of the leaderboard. She had gotten it to 6 under for the tournament late in Friday’s round.
But things went astray at the 17th, a par 4 for the membership that’s been converted to a par 5 for this championship. Sorenstam hit 3 wood into the green on the 478-yard hole and didn’t catch it all, finding a cross-bunker well short of the green. She had about 50 yards to the flag and caught that shot low on the club face, finding a greenside bunker, where she ended up in a crater lie. From there, she made the double.
There was no thought about laying up, she said. It was, after all, a hole on which she made eagle Thursday.
“Sometimes,” Sorenstam said, “you’ve got to go for it to go for the prize.”
Redman made eagle on the 17th in the second round, hitting her approach shot to about 13 feet and making the putt, one of several highlights on her back-nine 31. Webb, 51, began her second nine with back-to-back birdies and shot 33.
In all, nine players were under par through two rounds, and things appear to be shaping up to be a little more competitive down the stretch than they were last year, when Morgan won by six shots.
Morgan and Sorenstam are looking to become the first two-time winner of this United States Golf Association championship, which debuted in 2018.
“That’s where I obviously would like to be,” said Morgan, 51. “Try and do well this year after last year. In a funny way, I think because I won last year, I don’t feel as much pressure.”
“Really looking forward to the challenge.”
Juli Inkster, 66, another World Golf Hall-of-Famer, was at 1 over after a second-round 75, tied for 10th. Her round again was derailed by the par-4 15th hole, where she made double-bogey Friday after making triple-bogey Thursday.
Among those making the 36-hole cut were Jackson’s Elaine Crosby, a former LPGA player and Michigan Golf Hall of Famer who was at 5 over after a second-round 76, as well as Michigan State head women’s golf coach Stacy Slobodnik-Stoll and Holland’s Tracy Hanson, both of whom were at 7 under. Slobodnik-Stoll shot 74 on Friday; Hanson shot 76.
Barton Hills member and Ann Arbor resident Suzy Green-Roebuck, who, like Crosby and Slobodnik-Stoll is a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame, missed the cut at 12 over after a second-round 76.
Tee times for Saturday’s third round have been moved up because of inclement weather in the forecast later in the day. They will start at 7:45 a.m., with Redman, Sorenstam and Webb going off the first tee at 9:13 a.m.
U.S. Senior Women’s Open
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This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Annika Sorenstam still in hunt in Ann Arbor, despite late double-bogey
Reporting by Tony Paul, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tony Paul, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
