Ex-Aggie Sharp leads Manulife LPGA event
Reavie, Schwartzel in 1st in Memphis
CAMBRIDGE, Ontario — Alena Sharp shot her second straight 66 Friday to move into a share of the lead at 12-under 132 after the second round of the Manulife LPGA Classic.
Sharp, a former New Mexico State Aggie and 2016 Olympian from nearby Hamilton, was tied with American Lexi Thompson (65) and South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim (68). Perrine Delacour (62) of France, American Lindy Duncan (65) amd South Korea’s In Gee Chun (66) were one shot back.
Shanshan Feng of China had a 69 to move to 10 under, in a tie with Britain’s Bronte Law (65) and Australia’s Minjee Lee (66).
Sharp had a penalty stroke and a double bogey on the third hole at Whistle Bear Golf Club, and then came back with an eagle on the par-5 ninth and had a run of three straight birdies on the back nine.
“This week has been different,” Sharp said. “I just walked up to the golf course yesterday and today just feeling like it was going to be a good day. Just had these good vibes coming out.”
PGA: In Memphis, Tenn., Chez Reavie shot a 5-under 65 to move to 9-under 131 and share the lead with Charl Schwartzel and Sebastian Munoz after two rounds at the St. Jude Classic.
Schwartzel had a 66 while Munoz finished the round with a 67. Stewart Cink — who shared the first-round lead along with Matt Every, Scott Brown and Munoz — was one stroke back after his 68 at the PGA Tour’s final event before the U.S. Open.
Ben Crane, who won this tourney in 2014, was two strokes off the lead after shooting a 65 at the par-70 TPC Southwind course.
Reavie, who started two strokes behind the co-leaders, had three birdies on the front nine and an eagle on the par-5 No. 16, landing his second shot fewer than 15 feet from the stick and sinking the putt. The 35-year-old from Arizona State earned his only win on tour at the RBC Canadian Open in 2008.
“There’s no way that I can change my mind-set and go out there and try and make pars — I won’t win the golf tournament if I do that,” Reavie said. “I need to just keep doing the same thing I’m doing — attack the holes that suit my eye and make as many birdies as I can.”