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Hurst will give Sorenstam a veteran test

Journal photo / John Freidah
Pat Hurst gets started today with her drive off the first tee.

Pat Hurst, who will enter tomorrow tied with Annika Sorenstam for the lead at 2-under par, is a 37-year-old veteran player born in California and now living in Scottsdale, Ariz. She captured her share of the lead by birdying on 16 today. Hurst is a four-time LPGA tournament winner, her most recent victory coming in the 2005 State Farm Classic.

It's striking that in a tournament where youth has really been very prominent, two players well into their 30s will have it be theirs to lose.

Hurst acknowledges that being paired with Annika makes her automatically the underdog tomorrow. But she says she has confidence in her ability to roll with the challenge. She says a tough course like Newport plays to her advantage, while acknowledging that she's not the most consistent player in the world: "I'm known to make a lot of birdies, but I'm also known to make a lot of bogeys."

As for tonight, Hurst plans on relaxing with her husband and her two young children, ages 4 and 7, who are here in Rhode Island with her. "They really don't know what the U.S. Women's Open is, which is probably a good thing," Hurst says of the kids. They do, however, know that their mom plays golf, and they want her to win.

Posted by Mike McDermott  at 7:14 PM | Permalink

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