July 5, 2002

HUTCHINSON, KANSAS -- Two former Duke Blue Devils will be playing on the weekend in the 2002 U.S. Women's Open at the Prairie Dunes Country Club in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Beth Bauer sits in tied for 23rd after turning in rounds of 74, 72 on Thursday and Friday, while Jean Bartholomew is in tied for 58th with rounds of 75, 74. Bauer is six over par and seven strokes off the lead and Bartholomew is nine over par.

The two current Blue Devils playing, Virada Nirapathpongporn (Bangkok, Thailand) and Leigh Anne Hardin (Martinsville, Ind.), each missed the cut on Friday. Nirapathpongporn had rounds of 75, 78 and finished 13 over par in tied for 93rd. This was Nirapathpongporn's first U.S. Open appearance. Hardin had rounds of 78, 78 and finished 16 over par in tied for 116th.

After two rounds of competition, Laura Diaz, Juli Inkster and Annika Sorenstam lead with a one under par score with two rounds remaining. Only two of 12 amateurs playing in the U.S. Open advanced to the weekend play. The cut was made at nine over par.