B-4 THE NEW MEXICAN Friday, July 4, 2008
GOLF: AT&T NATIONAL
Marino
seizes lead
by one
shot on
home turf
By Doug Ferguson
The Associated Press
BETHESDA, Md. — Steve
Marino used to consider it a
treat the few times he played
Congressional as a teenager. It
was a thrill on Thursday to play
bogey-free in the first round of
the AT&T National and shoot
5-under 65 for a one-shot lead.
Marino, who grew up a half-
hour away in Fairfax, Va., bird-
ied three of his opening four
holes, never had a par putt lon-
ger than 5 feet and finished off
his round with an 8-foot birdie
to be in the lead after any round
for only the second time in his
career.
“I played a bunch of junior
golf growing up here, all over
the D.C. area, so it feels great
to get off to this good start,”
Marino said. “And I’m looking
forward to the rest of the week.”
It’s already been a big week
for Jeff Overton and Frank Lick-
liter, who were among those at
66.
Overton had missed six of his
last seven cuts, working harder
than ever with nothing to show
for it, until the 36-hole qualifier
Monday outside Detroit for the
British Open. He was the med-
alist, earning his first trip to a
major.
“It just carried over from
there,” he said.
Lickliter, whose wife gave
birth to twin sons in January,
took them to Christ Church in
Georgetown to have Storm and
Steel christened.
“It was fantastic,” he said. “We
celebrated all day, so there went
practice on Wednesday.”
But it must have been inspira-
tional for Lickliter, who had not
made a cut in his last six tourna-
ments dating to the EDS Byron
Nelson Championship. After
four birdies on his front nine,
he recovered from a pair of
bogeys with consecutive bird-
ies, including a 5-iron that was
among the best he ever hit.
He hit a big drive on the 522-
yard sixth hole, converted to a
par 4 for this tournament, then
hit a 5-iron from 210 yards over
the water to about 12 feet from
the flag.
“Best shot I’ve hit in the last
four years,” he said.
Rod Pampling and Bob Estes
also were at 66, while the large
group at 67 including Anthony
Kim and Notah Begay III, a
teammate of Tiger Woods at
Stanford who received one of
the sponsor’s exemptions.
Thursday’s attendance in
gorgeous weather was 17,000,
which was 1,345 fewer than last
year when the AT&T National
made its debut.
It didn’t look that big, perhaps
because the fans were scattered
among various groups.
Among the most vocal were
following Marino, which doesn’t
happen to him anywhere else
on the PGA Tour.
“I got some crazy friends
that came out to watch me this
week,” he said. “And today, I
think it’s safe to say it was prob-
ably going to be the mildest day,
especially if I keep playing well.
I know tomorrow is July 4th,
and I’m teeing off in the after-
noon. So that gives them plenty
of time for to get looped up.”
Nick Wass/The Associated Press
Steve Marino keeps his eyes on
a shot out of a sand trap onto
the 17th green Thursday dur-
ing the first round of the AT&T
Nationals in Bethesda, Md.
TENNIS
Photos by The
Associated Press
After two rain delays, Serena Williams topped China’s Zheng Jie 6-2, 7-6 (5) Defending champion Venus Williams downed Russia’s Elena Dementieva on
Thursday to make the final at Wimbledon against her sister. Thursday to set up the first title match between the Williams since 2003.
Wimbledon women’s final family reunion
Serena, Venus to Said Venus: “It’s every Williams for
themself.”
and down with joy like a kid at a birth-
day party.
playing against each other.
Like her sister, Serena Williams hasn’t
face off in seventh Serena holds an 8-7 career edge over “I guess it started to set in a little dropped a set so far. And, like Venus,
all-sibling major title Venus, including 5-1 in Grand Slam finals.
Since Venus won the U.S. Open in 2001,
bit about being in the final,” she said.
“When I’m excited I always jump. That
she relied on her serve to pull her
through when she needed it most.
Serena has won all their major finals. I guess will never change. I’d like to cel- “I didn’t want to go three sets,” she
By Stephen Wilson “It’s easy, especially with sibling ebrate even more if I’m good enough to said. “I could have. I was ready to go
The Associated Press rivalry,” said Serena, who has also take that title.” three sets, but I felt like I didn’t want to.
reached the women’s doubles semifinals Venus then went back out to watch I just wanted to close it. I just hit some
WIMBLEDON, England — Five years
with her sister. “I personally want every- her 26-year-old sister, who sat through big serves.”
since their last title matchup, the Wil-
thing that Venus has. We’re good at this rain breaks in both sets before cranking Asked about an all-Williams final,
liams sisters are back in the Wimbledon
now. We just leave everything on the up her big serve, saving a set point in the Dementieva said she couldn’t imagine
final with another Grand Slam cham-
court. This is the finals of Wimbledon. second set and finishing off the 133rd- playing against a sibling, adding, “For
pionship — and family bragging rights
Who doesn’t want it?” ranked Zheng to put her one win away sure it’s going to be a family decision.”
— at stake.
The sisters won in straight sets The sisters shrugged off suggestions from a ninth Grand Slam crown. Venus took offense to a question
that their previous finals have failed to After Zheng dumped a second serve about a predetermined outcome.
Thursday to set up their seventh all-sib-
ling final at a major and third at the All live up to expectations because they feel into the net on match point, Serena “I’m extremely professional in every-
uncomfortable trying to beat each other. looked more relieved than anything to
England Club. thing that I do on and off the court,”
Defending champion and four-time “It’s gotten easier for me personally get through the match. Venus fiddled Venus said. “I contribute my best in my
because I just realize that I want to win,” with her fingernails as she watched
winner Venus beat Elena Dementieva sport and I also have a ton of respect for
Serena said. “This is Wimbledon. This alongside their father, Richard, in the
6-1, 7-6 (3), then two-time champ Serena myself and my family. So any mention of
is a Grand Slam. This is history. We both players’ box.
overcame two rain delays and served 14 that is extremely disrespectful for who I
are trying to make our mark.”
aces to down China’s Zheng Jie 6-2, 7-6 “She definitely pushed me,” Serena am, what I stand for, and my family.”
(5). Venus overpowered the fifth-seeded said of Zheng, the first Chinese player Later, Dementieva issued a statement
It will be the first all-Williams final at Dementieva in the first set and then to reach a Grand Slam semifinal and first through the WTA clarifying her com-
any tournament since 2003, when Ser- prevailed in an error-filled tiebreaker to wild-card entrant to get this far at Wim- ments, saying English was not her first
ena beat her older sister in the Wimble- improve her record to 7-0 in semifinals bledon. “Unbelievable, and not only that language.
don title match for the second year in a at Wimbledon. she played a great game. She played like “I do not think for one second that
row. Serena will be going for her ninth “I am dying for S. Williams to get she had nothing to lose and she didn’t.” matches between Serena and Venus
Grand Slam title; Venus her seventh. through,” said the 28-year-old Venus, Richard Williams said he would Williams are family decisions,” she said.
“It’s definitely been a while,” Serena who hasn’t dropped a set in five matches. fly back to the United States today “What I meant was it is a unique situ-
said. “We’ve been on the same side of After Dementieva knocked a forehand and doesn’t plan to watch a single ation for a family to be in to be playing
the draw a few times. It’s good. This is a into the net to end the 1 hour, 42 minute point of the final on television, saying for a Grand Slam title. I have a lot of
new start for us.” match, Venus skipped and hopped up he can’t bear to watch his daughters respect for Serena and Venus.”
Win: Federer to lead off today
Continued from Page B-1 U.S. Open and 2005 Australian
Open than at any time in the
quickly with a straight-sets win past three years. His problem
over Andy Murray on Wednes- is he’s playing Federer, who has
day and took Thursday off. won 64 in a row on grass.
“We played three hours “I really feel like I’m playing
today and yesterday two,” as good as the last few years,”
Schuettler said. “It’s OK. Obvi- said Federer, who is working on
ously, Nadal has an advantage, his sixth consecutive Wimble-
but I’ll be OK tomorrow. I’m don title. He holds a lifetime
not real tired.” 8-2 edge on Safin, but many
The Schuettler win, the first of those matches were played
time he has reached a Grand when Safin was much less than
Slam semifinal, was but a side- the fully committed player he
show in a men’s tournament seems to be now.
that has been dominated by the Safin came to London ranked
progress of No. 2 seed Nadal 75.
and No. 1 Roger Federer. “I mean, that’s ridiculous,” Alastair Grant/The Associated Press
Federer will lead off today on Federer said. “He’s finally
Rainer Schuettler of Germany
Centre Court against unseeded shown again what he can do. acknowledges the crowd after
Marat Safin, who has had It’s just quite surprising he does defeating Arnaud Clement of
something of a revitalization it here at Wimbledon because France in their Men’s Singles
here. He has looked more like he used to dislike playing on quarterfinal at Wimbledon on
the man who won the 2000 this surface.” Thursday.
17
99
$
Most vehicles. Add $2.50 for oil filter recycling. See store for complete service description and details. Redeem this coupon
at your participating Firestone Complete Auto Care store. Not to be combined with another offer on same product or service
and not to be used to reduce outstanding debt. No cash value. Offer void where prohibited.
passenger perfor mance suv/ light truck
$
28 52 68
Primewell PS850
size 155/80R13
99 $
In store installation required.
Primewell PS830
size P185/60R14
99 $
In store installation required
Lemans Pathmaker A/T
size P235/75R15
99
Towa Card Rate
Only $35 Starts 1 Hr. Earlier Shop supply charges in the amount of 6% of labor charges will be added to invoices greater than $30. These charges
will not exceed $25 and represent costs and profits. Shop supply charges not applicable in CA or NY. Non-mandated dis-
3 1/2 Hours Before Dusk, Includes Cart. posal or recycling charges, if any are disclosed above, may also represent costs and profits. Specific product offerings
and tread designs may vary. Prices, warranties, car service, credit plans and other offers available at Firestone Complete
Auto Care; see affiliated dealers listed for their competitive offers and warranties. *If you do not achieve guaranteed
mileage, your Firestone retailer will replace your tires on a pro-rated basis. Actual tread life may vary. All warranties apply
Individual instruction • Group lessons • Customized & flexible Hilton® Golf Academy programs • Premium rental clubs only to original owner on originally installed vehicle. See retailer for details, restrictions and copy of each limited warran-
ty. Show us a lower priced tire in a current, local ad and we'll meet it. Excludes clearance, close-outs and catalogs.
Located 12 Miles North of Santa Fe on Hwy. 84/285 †Finance charges waived on qualifying Promotional Credit Plan purchases that are paid in full within 90 days.
MINIMUM MONTHLY PAYMENTS REQUIRED. Regular rate: 21.84% APR. Delinquency rate: 24.84% APR. Minimum
455-9000 Open Daily www.towagolf.com finance charge $1.00. CFNA reserves the right to change APR, fees and other terms unilaterally. V1005