LPGA NOTES
Darkness halts play with two on course

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. — The cut is projected to be 8-over 152, but the second round won't actually be done until this morning.

Nanci Bowen and Heather Daly-Donofrio, who played in the final group with co-leader Jung Yeon Lee, chose not to complete the last hole because of darkness. When they finish this morning — they start at 6:45 — the cut will be made and play will begin again almost immediately.

The last group teed off at 12:30 p.m. PST yesterday. Lee finished at 6:13.

SI might come to Hawai'i: Sports Illustrated is trying to schedule a trip to Hawai'i next week to work on the latest Michelle Wie feature. All the attention does have its downside. Wie put on her unhappy face Wednesday and told reporters she's "kind of taught myself" how to distinguish between sincere autograph seekers and those with dollar signs in their eyes.

"It's a little bit strange because last year there were none and this year there are a lot of autograph seekers," she said. "I don't know, I'm a little bit more careful because, I don't know, it kind of hurts me when I see my things get sold. It's like a part of me gets sold. I don't know, it's a little bit tiring in a way. I just have to say, 'I don't sign those things.' "

Hazardous waters: The traditional leap in the lake by Kraft Nabisco champions might be hazardous to your health.

Dottie Pepper jumped into the Champions Lake at the 18th hole after winning her second title in 1999. Two weeks later, she found something in her ear.

"It was green," Pepper recalled yesterday. "I won't go into the details, but it was very ugly."

And "it" wasn't all. Pepper was so sick after the leap she didn't play for four weeks, suffering from walking pneumonia.

Asked if she would jump again if she won, Pepper didn't hesitate: "I'll jump if that's the case and worry about starting antibiotics on Monday."

Reach Ann Miller at amiller@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8043.