Nancy Lopez Shoots 71, Takes Four-Stroke Lead

Nancy Lopez shot a one-under par 71 Friday to take a four-stroke lead after two rounds of the $250,000 LPGA Championship at Mason, Ohio.

Lopez, who had a 65 in Thursday’s first round despite a two-stroke penalty for slow play, has a two-day total of eight-under 136. Cathy Kratzert duplicated her first round 70 to tie Alice Ritzman for second place at 140. Ritzman, who had a 68 Thursday, shot a 72 Friday.

Lopez said she would have had a better round Friday had it not been for the psychological effect of Thursday’s penalty for slow play. She was penalized for taking 83 seconds to hit a tee shot. LPGA rules permit only 60 seconds.

“I tried to forget about it and come out today and play good golf, but I thought about it quite a bit,” Lopez said. “I think it hurt me a few times today, but I can’t do anything about it. I’ve just got to speed up and get used to it, I guess.”

Sharon Barrett had a hole in one on the 170-yard, par-3 12th hole, but remained far back in the pack at 149.

At Bethesda, Md., George Archer shot a 68 to assume a one-stroke lead in the $500,000 Kemper Open at the rain-drenched Congressional Country Club. Archer has a 36-hole total of 137, while Larry Mize, who shot a 68 Friday, is at 138.

First-round leader Hale Irwin, playing in swirling afternoon winds, shot a 75 and is now four strokes back.