Abiecunas shoots 71, makes move to defend Legacy title

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, June 17, 1999 | 9:51 a.m.

By the stoic look on Nancy Abiecunas' face as she walked off the course at the Legacy Golf Club Wednesday, you'd never have guessed the Colorado native just shot a two-under-par 71 at the Las Vegas Founders' junior championship.

"I haven't really played my best golf yet," Abiecunas said. "I just haven't putted well."

Strange talk, considering Abiecunas is just one shot behind leader Anne Lee with a two-day total of 143.

But considering her credentials, which include the 1998 Las Vegas Founders' title, perhaps it's easy to understand Abiecunas' disappointment with rounds of 73 on Tuesday and 71 on Wednesday.

Last year, Abiecunas turned the female division of the Las Vegas event into a one-woman show, posting a three-day total of 208 (70-68-70) to best her closest competitor by four strokes.

"I had three three-putts today, so that hurt," said Abiecunas, the 1999 Colorado high school state runner-up. "If I improve on that tomorrow I'll definitely have a chance."

While Abiecunas is seeking her third junior title, the girl she's chasing -- Lee, a 1999 Notre Dame (Calif.) High School graduate -- is looking for her first American Junior Golf Association win.

Lee followed up Tuesday's three-under 70 with a one-over 73 on day two to take sole possession of first place.

"I played pretty steady on the green, and made most of my putts," Lee said. "I'm just going to try to go out tomorrow and play my best and see what happens."

Today's competition could turn into a showdown between future University of Arizona Wildcats, if a battle between Lee and Abiecunas materializes. Lee is headed to Tucson this fall, and Abiecunas already has committed to attend the Pac-10 school in 2000.

"We're going to be teammates soon, so I don't feel that competitive with her," Lee said. "I just try to focus on my own game."

Another golfer who could figure into the race for the girls trophy is Californian Yunny Cho, who matched Lee's first-day 70 but fell out of the lead with a 76 on Wednesday.

"Everything was better yesterday," said Cho, who will be a junior at Diamond Bar (Calif.) High School this fall. "But I still have a chance. I'm not going to give up."

On the boys side, two-time defending 4A state high school champion Travis Whisman of Reno's Galena High shot a 69 Wednesday to take a share of the lead with a two-day total of 141. Tied with Whisman are David Evenson (San Diego) and Tommy Sharp (Salt Lake City).

The boys championship is almost anyone's to win, with 17 golfers within four shots of the leaders, including Durango's Chad Fosburg (142) and Green Valley's Drew Scott (144).