ESPN.com - Golf Online - Lickliter, Calcavecchia lead way

ESPN Golf Online news services
Friday, September 15

PAOLI, Pa. -- Mark Calcavecchia has a share of the top spot at the $3.2 million Pennsylvania Classic and is the biggest name on a crowded leaderboard. But that means nothing to him.


	Mark Calcavecchia's last PGA Tour victory came 2½ years ago at the Honda Classic.

Looking for his first win since 1998, Calcavecchia shot a 5-under 66 Friday to catch Frank Lickliter for the lead midway through the inaugural event.

A winner of nine PGA Tour events and the 1989 British Open, Calcavecchia was in a similar situation at the Air Canada Championship two weeks ago and finished third, his third top-three finish of the year.

"You can shoot that theory right out the window at Vancouver," he said. "I thought, 'Well, I'm duking it out with Chris Riley and (eventual winner) Rory Sabbatini. These guys ought to fall apart any second.' Didn't happen."

Those Calcavecchia does not expect to fall apart this weekend are Chris DiMarco and Steve Pate, who are at 7-under 135; Jim Carter, Emlyn Aubrey and Mathew Goggin, who are at 136; and Jonathan Kaye and Danny Briggs, who are at 135.

"Maybe my experience will come into it a little bit more, but then again, maybe it won't," Calcavecchia said. "You know, it's the old saying -- when you're penciled in to win, you're going to win.

"This week it might be Chris DiMarco or Frank Lickliter or me. Shoot, anybody within even 4-under-par or better still has a shot to win this thing."

Calcavecchia gave himself a shot with birdies on three of his last five holes. He finished birdie-par, rolling in a 20-footer with a two-foot break at No. 8 and a par at the tough No. 9.

Calcavecchia credited local caddie Bill Poore, who worked on the PGA Tour for nearly 15 years, for some of his putting.

"I brought him out of retirement," Calcavecchia said. "This is his first tournament of the year." Lickliter, who missed the cut in his last three tournaments, shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to match Calcavecchia at 8-under 134.

"Basically just made one error, and that was at the very first hole yesterday," said Lickliter, who shot his second straight bogey-free round.

The first PGA Tour event in Pennsylvania in 20 years could become the first tour victory for Lickliter, who finished second to Payne Stewart in the 1999 Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

Calcavecchia, a three-time Ryder Cup member, adds a familiar name atop the leaderboard in a tournament missing many of the big names.

None of the top seven money-winners are competing.

"The main difference was my driver was a lot better," Calcavecchia said. "It was not easy out there. The wind was blowing pretty hard, especially on the first nine holes."

Lickliter teed off at 8:14 a.m. and took advantage of the soft conditions following overnight thunderstorms. He was off the Waynesborough Country Club course well before the afternoon wind could affect his game.

"As long as it keeps blowing, it might be somewhat of an advantage," Lickliter said. "I can't tell you how great the greens are here. The golf course is in such wonderful shape. The fairways are just perfect. And the greens are actually perfect, too."

Lickliter, 105th on the money list, finished ninth in the Western Open and Greater Milwaukee Open in consecutive weeks in July for his best finishes this season.

Calcavecchia was second in the Greater Hartford Open, and has seven top-10 finishes this year.

"I've had a lot of second-place finishes in my career," Calcavecchia said. "I don't know if it's bad luck or what. Second is OK, but it's not first. I've bounced back from those things."

DiMarco, who has two second-place finishes this year, is seeking his first victory on the Tour.

"Obviously my goal is top 30," said DiMarco, who is 40th on the money list. "It's been a good season. I've had a couple seconds. I've been close. Hopefully I've learned from those and I'll go out and keep playing good."

Pate is looking for his first PGA Tour victory since 1998. He had one bogey and six birdies, including a 35-footer on No. 15.

"I didn't hit it as well as yesterday. I hit a couple of loose shots that didn't really hurt me," Pate said. "When I hit it close, I made it, which was not really the case yesterday."

Divots

Pate, a two-time Ryder Cup member, still doesn't get recognized easily even in a tournament lacking the top stars. "I get ignored everywhere," he joked. "I got called Jerry a couple times today."

John Daly missed the cut after his second straight 72. Jim Furyk, who was born in nearby West Chester, and Casey Martin also missed the cut at 144.