Tom Lehman

Eagles Fly; Birdies keep
Lehman in Lead at Open

By Shannon Gazze,
Staff Writer

Lehman carded five birdies to move to 13-under before making his only bogey of the day at the par-4 14th. He finished with a 67, putting him at -12 for the tournament.

Lehman is one stroke ahead of Frank Lickliter, whose 64 was the low round of the day.

“I played very well again today,” Lehman said. “I had one little blip on 14, but I hit one of my best putts of the day – a little five-footer to save par that just missed. I guess you can’t make everything.”

As for Lickliter, the 30-year-old doesn’t mind settling for second place after two rounds.

“If I keep putting myself in this position, (defending champion) Rocco (Mediate) keeps telling me I’ll win by accident.”

• Scottsdale Pair Sprints to Open Lead • Complete Phoenix Open coverage • Recent GolfArizona.com course reviews • Past articles by Shannon Gazze

Thanks to a 30-minute frost delay, a handful of players were left out on the course when darkness fell. Those golfers will finish tomorrow morning, with the projected cut somewhere around even par.

Phil Mickelson

Mickelson bogeyed the first two holes of each nine to finish at -6.

Despite efforts to cut down the size of the galleries around the infamous par-3 16th hole, the boisterous fans there were still a topic of conversation among the golfers.

“I think there’s a pretty damn good party going on here, and there’s a golf tournament lost somewhere in the middle of it.,” said Sutton.

“The crowd as a whole was fantastic,” said Lehman. “There’s just that one spot where they get (loud). It’s tradition. Augusta has the green jacket. We’ve go the 16th hole.

While one lefty (Mickelson) had a tough time of it, another - Steve Flesch - made a nice run Friday, eagling the par-5 13th hole and posting a 65. Playing into the weekend is a welcome departure to last year’s golfing experience in Arizona for Flesch. But then again, anything would be.

Flesch had his clubs stolen from his van before last year’s Phoenix Open.

“I’d been playing those clubs for two years, so it’s not so much that there was anything unique about them other than they had some time under the belt.

“Then after (the Tucson Open) I go home thinking I’m going to take a week off, get some rest, and I fall down the steps and break my elbow.”

The Thunderbirds announced Friday that the Tiger Woods Foundation has decided to move the next Williams World Challenge to another domestic market. Tournament Director Greg McLaughlin says the change is meant to give the event a national and ultimately international presence.

The tournament debuted over the New Year holiday at Grayhawk Golf Club and featured six of the top 10 players from the 1999 PGA Tour money list among the small field battling for the $1 million top prize. Tom Lehman took first with a score of 267 (-13).

“In partnership with Grayhawk, we felt we did our part in launching a most significant tournament and wish Greg and his staff the best as they grow the event,” said Ray Artigue, big chief of the Thunderbirds...

Bank of America is launching a fantasy golf competition on its website, www.bankofamerica.com/sports, where PGA Tour fans can earn money for their favorite local charity. More than $1.2 million will be doled out in the 2000 Charity Cup. Participants pick a different golfer each week and are ranked based on the money earned by their PGA Tour player. . . .

Paul Azinger

The 501-yard par-5 15th hole has given up thirteen of the 19 eagles so far.