• Sorenstam takes second major, Wie second place • Spurs 97, Pistons 76 • Ed Ho Meet scheduled for August 13 Sorenstam takes second major, Wie second place HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Annika Sorenstam is making the Grand Slam
• Sorenstam takes second major, Wie second place
• Spurs 97, Pistons 76
• Ed Ho Meet scheduled for August 13
Sorenstam takes second major, Wie second place
HAVRE DE GRACE, Md. — Annika Sorenstam is making the Grand Slam look like a slam dunk.
Never threatened from the start, sloppy at the end when it no longer mattered, Sorenstam took another step toward a sweep of the four majors Sunday by closing with a 1-over 73 for a three-shot victory over Michelle Wie in the LPGA Championship.
Sorenstam became the first LPGA Tour player in 19 years to get halfway home to a Grand Slam, and no one has any reason to believe she won’t win the next two.
First came an eight-shot victory at the Kraft Nabisco in March. This one was just as dominant, with Sorenstam building an eight-shot lead at the turn and leaving everyone else in a hopeless pursuit.
Sorenstam finished at 11-under 277 and earned $270,000, pushing her career total to more than $17 million. Since playing in the Colonial on the PGA Tour two years ago, she has won 19 of her 38 events on the LPGA Tour.
Her only competition came from the 15-year-old Wie, who gave another big crowd at Bulle Rock a glimpse of the future with a 69 to finish second — the highest finish by an amateur in a major since 20-year-old Jenny Chuasiriporn lost a playoff to Se Ri Pak in the 1998 U.S. Women’s Open.
“I just felt really good about myself today,” Wie said. “I was trying to make a run for her money, but I just wanted to shoot a good score.”
Spurs 97, Pistons 76
SAN ANTONIO — Two steps quicker, two games ahead.
The San Antonio Spurs were at their best Sunday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals, speeding out to a big early lead and frustrating the Detroit Pistons the rest of the way in a 97-76 victory for a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven championship round.
Once again, the quickness and creativity of Manu Ginobili was the one thing that stood out. But unlike in Game 1 when Ginobili took over all by himself in the fourth quarter, this time he did it earlier, too, and received plenty of help.
Ginobili scored 27 points with seven assists, while Tim Duncan was his usual efficient self with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Throw in Tony Parker being a speedy complement to Ginobili’s dashing exploits, Bruce Bowen’s 3-point shooting from his favorite spot in the corner, along with Robert Horry’s effort plays, and this one was all but over by the time the fourth quarter began.
The Pistons did manage to pull within eight points midway through the final quarter, but Ginobili stopped them by drawing Rasheed Wallace’s fifth foul, then coming up with a steal, an assist and several free throws as the lead quickly went back to 20.
Detroit guards Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton did next to nothing offensively for the first three quarters, and on defense they were helpless to stop the precision and shiftiness of Parker, the point guard from France, and Ginobili, the shooting guard from Argentina.
Game 3 is Tuesday night at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit.
Ed Ho Meet scheduled for August 13
The West Kaua’i Lions Club is proud to sponsor the 31st Annual Ed Ho Memorial Swim Meet. Mr. Ed Ho a former teacher and coach at Waimea High School unselfishly devoted his time and energy to the youth, community activities, and to organizations including the West Kaua’i Lions Club.
This swim meet is open to Boy’s and Girl’s 17 yrs of age and younger. Pre-registration will be accepted not later than August 3, 2005. The events scheduled include freestyle, back and breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley.
All events are scheduled to be at the Waimea Swimming Pool on Saturday, August 13. The meet starts with the first heat promptly at 9 a.m.
To obtain the pre-registration application please contact any of the following Lions: Naoko Ho 338-1877, Brian Kimura 245-1651, or Eric Nordmeier 335-0197.
