Lange defends in Mid-Am

Chris Lange from Overbrook Golf Club, one of the elder statemen of the Golf Assocication of Philadelphia at 51, shot 77 Wednesday at Commonwealth National Golf Club, just enough to defend his title as Mid-Am champion.

Chip Lutz from LedgeRock shot 73 to finish within a stroke of Lange, with a two-round total of 7-over par.

For full details and scores, click here.

Lange leads Mid-Am

Chris Lange from Overbrook Golf Club is off to a strong start in his effort to become the first player ever to repeat as Mid-Am champion for the Golf Association of Philadelphia.

Lange, 51, shot even par 71 yesterday in the first of two rounds at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham.

Mike Danner from Lu Lu Country Club is one shot back after a 72.

For full details and first round scores, click here.

Reading CC

If you saw the course review in the Sunday Inquirer, it's no secret I gave high praise to Reading Country Club, a venerable old private club that's now a muni.

Judging from the emails, my take on the place is no different from most everyone else who has played Reading CC since they threw open the doors on April 1. Whether you agree or beg to differ, you can throw in your 2-cents worth in the "comment" below.

Philly Mid-Am

On the PGA Tour, it's the Masters, the major of the year, that officially signals the arrival of another golf season. At the Golf Association of Philadelphia, it's the Mid-Am.

Beginning tomorrow, 132 of the top middle-amateurs from the area will descend on Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham for the annual 36-hole battle royale among golfers 25 and older.

The defending champion is Chris Lange, who won by four shots last year, kick-starting another stellar year for he 51-year-old.

For a fuller preview of the Mid-Am, click here.

For a Mid-Am fact sheet, click here.

Whatever happened to...?

Matt Kuchar, the 1997 U.S. Amateur champion, won this past week's Nationwide Tour stop in Richmond, Va., his first victory since the 2002 Honda Classic.

Annika Chronicles

If you missed it, Annika Sorenstam, who is going through and uncharacterisic rough patch in her career, was at 3-under par and in contention in Sunday's final round of the Sybase Classic when she was suddenly visited by calamity.

At the 9th hole, playing into an elevated green, Sorenstam's approach shot spun off the green and down a hill three times, before she finally got one to hold. The resulting triple-bogey was all the opening Larena Ochao needed to nab victory. Sorenstam shot 74 and finished tied for 6th.

“I hit a lot of good shots. I really did,” said Sorenstam. “It's a tough green. I hit a 9‑iron in the first time and I thought it was a great shot. I actually took one more club to hit it soft to make sure it wouldn't spin. And then I hit a sand wedge. I don't know what to say other than that. I made seven good shots.”