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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:12 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2008

Wie, Okino, Kim to miss U.S. Women's Open cut

Advertiser News Services

EDINA, Minn. — After bogeying her last hole of the day before darkness prematurely ended her second round in the U.S. Women's Open, Michelle Wie was told she had the option of getting a van ride back to the clubhouse or walking.

"I'll walk," the Hawaii teenager said. "It's good for the soul."

Going to bed knowing that she will miss the cut no matter what happens when she plays the final hole of her round Saturday morning? That may be a different story.

With one hole to play, Wie was 2 over for the day and 10 over for the tournament, well over the 4 over needed to continue to the third round at Interlachen. It's the first time in her six U.S. Women's Opens that she will miss the cut.

"It was a tough day out there," said Wie, who led the Open after three rounds in 2005 and 2006 before losing. "Just couldn't hit my putts and it was very unfortunate."

Cyd Okino, a 14-year-old Punahou student, is at 8 over through 14 holes today.

Kimberly Kim, a 16-year-old former Big Island resident, was at 8 over through 17 holes.

The cut was assured of being 4-over 150 because of the 10-stroke rule at the U.S. Women's Open.

Angela Park leads the tournament, holding a one-shot lead over three others at 6-under-par.

Some notables to miss the cut included Laura Davies, who began the day three shots off the lead but shot an 81 to finish 5 over.

Juli Inkster, a two-time Open champion, missed for the second straight year. She shot an 81, her highest score in the Open since she opened with an 86 in 1985.

Se Ri Pak, the Open winner in 1998, shot a 78 and finished at 8over, while Alexis Thompson, the 13-year-old from Coral Springs, Fla., shot a 77 to miss for the second straight year.

Five amateurs have made the cut already, with 13 still to finish Saturday.

It's been a disappointing tournament all around for the 18-year-old Wie. She had an embarrassing 9 on hole No. 9 in the opening round on Thursday, but shot 1 under on the front nine today before play was suspended by bad weather.

Once play resumed, Wie couldn't make the run necessary to get back in the hunt. She had a tough time on hole No. 5, pushing her drive into the deep, wet rough on the far right side, then hitting a punch-shot off a tree. It was one of her three bogeys on the day. With only one birdie, she has no chance when play resumes for one hole on Saturday morning.

"If my putts drop, it would have been a different story," Wie said. "Now I know what to work on."