Woods Lurks Behind Flesch

Steve Flesch has spent the last two days having fun at Disney with his family and having a blast on the golf course, so much that he tied the 36-hole scoring record Friday in the National Car Rental Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., and wasn’t even aware.

That could be about to change.

If the weekend isn’t enough to raise the intensity, perhaps it will come from the guy there to greet him on the first tee today--Tiger Woods, two strokes behind, but well ahead when it comes to experience in winning.

Flesch, the PGA Tour rookie of the year in 1998 but still searching for his first victory, had a seven-under 65 on another ideal afternoon for tourists and golfers. He was at 128, which tied the Disney record set by Tim Simpson in 1990.

Woods struggled with his driving and made birdie on only one of the par-five holes, but still extended his streak to 87 holes without a bogey and made enough putts for a 67.

Carlos Franco and Duffy Waldorf each had a 66 and were another stroke back at 131.

It will be the first time Flesch has played with Woods, and he gladly welcomed his position.

“Usually, if you’re playing with Tiger you’re doing pretty good,” Flesch said.

That’s because Woods has won nine times in 17 tournaments, the most in one year by any player since Sam Snead in 1950. And because he has 41 consecutive rounds on the PGA Tour at par or better, dating to the first round of the Byron Nelson Classic in May.

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Charlotta Sorenstam and Michele Redman led the 12-member LPGA to 4-2 victory over its Japanese counterpart in the opening round of the World Ladies Challenge at Narita, Japan.

The LPGA is seeking to win the event for the 16th consecutive year and increase its overall record in the event to 20-2.

Sorenstam and Redman beat Hiromi Kobayashi and Ku Ok-hee, 64-71, in a four-ball stroke play match at the 6,396-yard, par-72 Sosei Country Club.

Sophie Gustafson and Annika Sorenstam defeated Aki Nakano and Kaori Higo, 65-69, while Rosie Jones and Sherri Steinhauer defeated Kasumi Fujii and Orie Fujino, 66-71.

Cristie Kerr and Becky Iverson gave the LPGA team a fourth point of the day with a 68-70 victory over Akiko Fukushima and Junko Yasui.

Japan’s victories came from Yuri Fudoh and Tseng Hsiu-feng against Carin Koch and Nancy Scranton by 67-68, and from Midori Yoneyama and Aki Takamura against Lorie Kane and Se Ri Pak by 64-68.

The teams play again today in the same four-ball stroke-play matches. In the final round Sunday, an individual stroke-play format will be used. One point is awarded per match, and ties receive a half-point each.