SAN MARTIN, Calif. — Australia’s Nick O’Hern had to choose between baseball and golf as profession. This weekend he’s able to get his fill of both.
O’Hern shot a career-best 9-under 62 on Thursday in rainy conditions to take a three-stroke lead over European Ryder Cup player Nicolas Colsaerts, Jhonattan Vegas and Derek Ernst in the Frys.com Open.
O’Hern had eight birdies in an 11-hole stretch and capped the bogey-free round with a birdie on the par-5 ninth hole at CordeValle Golf Club.
He made it, as a fan, to Oakland’s 2-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night after playing golf at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.
“I’m just doing it all this week," O’Hern said. “It’s a lot of fun. I’ve never been to a playoff baseball game before and it was quite an experience. I was in my golf clothes. All that green and yellow and I had a pink shirt on."
Colsaerts is trying to earn a PGA Tour card. As a special temporary member, he needs to finish the equivalent of 125th on the money list to earn a full 2013 card. The Belgian player has earned $652,886, enough now for the 120th spot.
“Obviously, it is a little more difficult to keep playing in the rain," Colsaerts said. “The greens got a bit softer as well, and pace-wise on the greens it’s not the same thing. So you got to search for the things that the rain just changes the course a little. But I felt like I’m kind of used to playing in this kind of stuff. I know you guys over here don’t really like it that much. I thought it was actually the perfect time just to press on and make sure I get a good score in."
Vegas is fighting a shoulder injury.
“It was definitely a phenomenal round today," Vegas said. “It was really the best solid round I’ve had all year from the beginning to the end from birdieing the fifth hole and birdieing two of the last three.
So it was great."
Also on Thursday:
Rose, Westwood to meet in World Golf Final
BELEK, Turkey — Justin Rose beat Tiger Woods by a stroke to set up a title match against Lee Westwood in the World Golf Final. The two Englishmen, teammates on the victorious European Ryder Cup team, will meet Saturday, with the winner getting $1.5 million and the runner-up $1 million in the eight-player exhibition. Rose holed a sand wedge shot for an eagle at the 14th and finished at 2-under 69.
Two share LPGA lead in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Defending champion Na Yeon Choi shot a 6-under 65 in the LPGA Malaysia for a share of the lead with Hall of Famer Karrie Webb. Choi was 5 under through 12 holes when first-round play was delayed because of lightning, then added a birdie on the par-4 14th and finished the bogey-free round with four pars. Japan’s Mika Miyazato, South Korea’s Sun Young Yoo and 17-year-old Taiwanese amateur Min Lee were a stroke back at 66.
Florida golfer wins U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur
SAN ANTONIO — Meghan Stasi won her fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur title to match the tournament record, routing Liz Waynick 6 and 5 at Briggs Ranch. The 34-year-old Stasi, from Oakland Park, Fla., also won in 2006, 2007 and 2010.
Pair of 65s lead first round of Portugal Masters
VILAMOURA, Portugal — England’s Ross Fisher and Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher shot 6-under 65 to share the first-round lead in the European Tour’s Portugal Masters. Scotland’s George Murray was a stroke back. European Ryder Cup player Martin Kaymer opened with a 69 on the Oceanico Victoria course.
