ASIAN TOUR: American 16-year-old Michelle Wie became the first woman to make the cut in a major men's tour event in 61 years yesterday after firing a three-under-par 69 in the second round of the Asian Tour's SK Telecom Open at the Sky 72 Golf Club, in Seoul, Korea.
The Hawaiian schoolgirl, who failed to make the cut in seven prior appearances against the men, carded four birdies and a bogey for a two-round, five-under-par 139, six shots behind leaders Prom Meesawat of Thailand and Iain Steel of Malaysia.
Meesawat added a second round 64 and Steel a 66 for an 11-under-par 133 halfway total.
The last woman to make the final two rounds of a senior men's event was Babe Zaharias at the 1945 Los Angeles Open.
"I still can't believe that I made the cut," Wie said. "I will be even happier when it all sinks in."
US TOUR: American Bo Van Pelt charged into an early three-shot lead at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, yesterday while several of the bigger names began to rally.
Van Pelt fired a sparkling, eight-under-par 64 in damp, overcast conditions at Quail Hollow Club, ending the second round at 10-under 134.
The 30-year-old from Indiana, chasing his first title on the PGA Tour, mixed nine birdies with a solitary bogey at the par-four fourth to finish three strokes ahead of 2003 US Open champion Jim Furyk.
One of four leaders overnight after opening with a 68, Furyk returned a 69 after bogeying two of his last three holes.
Graeme McDowell missed the cut after posting a 75 for a two-round total of 151.
CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth fired a three-under-par 69 to trail early first round leaders Tom McKnight and Keith Fergus by just two shots as the early finishers completed their first rounds in the Regions Charity Classic at Ross Bridge Birmingham, Alabama.
Smith had nines of 35 and 34 which included five birdies and an eagle.
AUGUSTA: Billy Payne, the driving force behind the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, is to take over as chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the US Masters. Payne (58), will replace Hootie Johnson, who has held the position since May 1st, 1998.
Payne, who was raised in Atlanta and played football at the University of Georgia, will take office on May 21st when Johnson will move into the role of chairman emeritus.
