Golf-Curtis, Moore lead Lumber Classic as Wie flops

FARMINGTON, Pennsylvania, Sep 16 (Reuters) Ben Curtis ignored the Michelle Wie sideshow to earn a share of the lead with fellow American Ryan Moore in the second round of the 84 Lumber Classic.

While Wie was shooting her way to her worst score in a professional men's event, Curtis hardly made a mistake, coasting to a three-under-par 69 that included just one bogey on the Mystic Rock course at Nemacolin Resort yesterday.

The 2003 British Open champion joined Moore (67) at nine-under 135, one stroke ahead of compatriots Charles Howell and Sean O'Hair in ideal conditions.

''I made it pretty easy,'' Curtis told reporters. ''I hit every fairway. The only bad shot I really hit was on No. 11, my second shot, into the water. Other than that I played extremely well, made some long putts, which makes the game a little easier.'' Curtis was a shock British Open winner in 2003 when, as an almost completely unknown 26-year-old, he burst from obscurity to beat the world's best players at Royal St George's.

For nearly three years he looked like going down in history as a one-hit wonder before his victory at the PGA Tour's Booz Allen Classic in June.

''It was important obviously to get that monkey off your back, but I tried not to worry about it too much,'' he said. ''I just tried to play my game and fortunately that week was good enough.'' Moore, meanwhile, continued his recent good form with a bogey-free round.

''It was solid all the way,'' he said. ''I had some good par saves but gave myself a lot of really good chances for birdie.'' Moore, the 2004 US amateur champion, missed two months early in the season with a broken hand, but he has found form, finishing tied for ninth at last month's PGA Championship, and tied second at Hartford in July.

''I'm starting to move in the right direction,'' said the 23-year-old. ''Things are getting a little more consistent. That was the hardest part of being hurt and rehabbing. I lost a lot of consistency in my game (but) now I'm playing a lot more and it seems to be coming around.'' Moore last year became the first player since Tiger Woods in 1996 to go from American university to the PGA Tour in the same year without going to qualifying school. He did so by winning enough money in 12 starts to finish the equivalent of 113th on the money list.

While Moore was charging forwards, 16-year-old Wie retreated from the start, dropping six shots in the first six holes on her way to a nine-over 81.

She posted a 14-over 158 score, her worst 36-hole total in 11 men's events, to finish last apart from a handful of players who withdrew during the first two rounds. Just a week ago, the Hawaiian-born Wie brought up the rear of the field at the European Masters in Switzerland.

REUTERS AB BD1335