Patience a real virtue for leader Ekey

By Douglas Miles

MARION - Patience, patience, and more patience.

That was the theme of the day Saturday during the second round of the LPGA Futures Tour Ladies Titan Tire Challenge at Hunters Ridge Golf Course.

Leader Kathleen Ekey, who opened the day with a three-stroke advantage, extended her lead with pars on the first 17 holes, then dropped in a 15-foot birdie to move to 6-under par for the tournament.

“It's hard to stay patient for that long when I hit a lot of good putts today that didn't go in,” Ekey said. “That can get frustrating, but I just tried to stay patient. I knew I was playing well enough to make some birdies, so I just tried to think of it that way.”

Ekey dismissed a suggestion she was playing conservatively to protect her lead.

“I didn't really hit the ball as well today as I did yesterday,” she said. “I still hit 15 greens, it just wasn't quite as crisp as it normally is.”

Ekey won't be without challengers Sunday. A cluster of golfers made a push to pull within five strokes at 1-under par, led by California native and Oklahoma State alum Jane Rah, who posted a 4-under 68 for the best round of the day.

“I hit it the same all day, but I was able to get my distance control down and that's how I was able to make some birdie putts,” Rah said. “Yesterday there was so much wind I couldn't figure out my distances when I should. Today it was just little breezes, so it was easier to keep control.”

Rah was joined in second by two golfers in the same threesome - Ohio native Carling Coffing and Australian Leanne Bowditch.

---- Coffing, who plays with a diabetic insulin pump affectionately named “Hank the Panc,” won Golf Channel's “Big Break Sandals Resorts” reality show in 2010. She made four birdies to card a 3-under 69. Bowditch, sister of PGA Tour golfer Steven Bowditch, parred the last 13 holes after birdies on Nos. 4 and 5.

“I hit the ball great,” Bowditch said. “I putted good. I was just two inches short every time.”

Former Upper Iowa golfer Rachael Schmidt didn't make the cut in her fourth Futures event this year. She fell to 130th with an 11-over 83.

“I hit a few bad drives, got me in trouble, and I wasn't making as many putts as I did yesterday,” Schmidt said. “My putting has been really good. I just got to get the ball striking down, then work on my swing, (and I) should get there.”

Play begins Sunday on the first and 10th tees at 7:50 a.m. The leaders will go off the first tee at 9:40.

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