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Stricker Takes Lead In Barclays Defense

The Associated Press

Published: August 23, 2008

PARAMUS, N.J. - Steve Stricker is right at home at Ridgewood Country Club - and at the top of The Barclays leaderboard.

A year after winning across the Hudson at Westchester Country Club, the Wisconsin player shot a 7-under 64 in perfect morning conditions Friday to take a three-stroke lead against Hunter Mahan (73) in the FedEx Cup playoff opener.

"This reminds me of home, to tell you the truth," Stricker said. "This looks like a course that could be very easily in the Midwest somewhere. It reminds me of Medinah a lot. The grasses are the same. We putt on poa annua greens a lot where I'm from. It's bentgrass fairways, bluegrass rough and everything reminds me of home."

The 41-year-old Stricker, 21st in the FedEx Cup standings, had a 10-under 132 on the tree-lined A.W. Tillinghast layout, the tournament site for the first time after 41 seasons at Westchester.

He hasn't made a bogey since dropping strokes on the first two holes Thursday, playing his last 23 holes in 11 under.

Kenny Perry, effectively the FedEx Cup leader with top-ranked Tiger Woods sidelined by a knee injury, shot a 67 to join Angel Cabrera (67) and Dudley Hart (69) at 6 under.

Anthony Kim (67), Sergio Garcia (67), Kevin Streelman (70), Charley Hoffman (70) and Paul Casey (71) were 5 under.

CHAMPIONS: Mark Wiebe birdied four of his first five holes, then added two more on the back nine to shoot 67, giving him a share of the first-round lead with Scott Simpson at the Boeing Classic in Snoqualmie, Wash.

Simpson was flawless Friday, staying out of trouble and giving himself plenty of opportunities to make birdie. He dropped five putts and was bogey free.

A trio of golfers finished at 4 under - Gary Hallberg, David Edwards and Bob Gilder.

LPGA: Angela Park, winless on the LPGA Tour, shot a 6-under par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Safeway Classic in Portland, Ore.
Kelli Kuehne was in a group of six tied for second at 67 with Hee Young Park, Song-Hee Kim, Sophie Gustafson, Helen Alfredsson and Karen Stupples.

U.S. AMATEUR: University of Georgia teammates Adam Mitchell and Patrick Reed advanced to the semifinals in Pinehurst, N.C., keeping alive the possibility of an all-Bulldog championship round.

Mitchell rallied to defeat Charlie Holland 2 and 1 in one quarterfinal, and Patrick Reed defeated Graham Hill 4 and 3 to reach a semifinal today against perhaps the field's hottest player: fellow 18-year-old Danny Lee.

Mitchell will face Florida State's Drew Kittleson, who defeated former University of Louisville player Derek Fathauer 3 and 2.

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