Posted at 4:25 p.m., Friday, May 13, 2005
Wie shoots 76, earns alternate spot
Advertiser Staff
Honolulu's Michelle Wie, 15, shot a 4-over-par 76 and got a second alternate spot in a U.S. Open local qualifier Friday at Turtle Bay's Palmer Course.The top spot went to New Caledonia's Pierre-Henri Soero, who shot a 2-under 70. Hawai'i golfers Regan Lee and Joe Joe Phengsavath shot 72 and 73, respectively, earning a second and a tie for third. Japan's Shizuo Mori tied Phengsavath with a 73.
The top four advance to play in a sectional. Winners of the 14 sectionals scheduled for across the country will advance to the U.S. Open, June 16 to 19 at Pinehurst in North Carolina.
The first alternate spot went to Kevin Hayashi, who shot 74.
Wie tied with Norman-Ganin Asao and Andrew Feldman. But Wie was given second alternate when the other two failed to show up for a playoff.
Wie is one of three women who are trying to qualify at 107 local sites for the men's event. Isabelle Beisiegel and 14-year-old Carmen Bandea will play in Atlanta in May.
