Spector tied for 2nd after 2nd-round 80 Mainer seeking New England crown

MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – First-round leader Abby Spector of Waterville struggled to an 80 during the second round of the 47th annual New England Women’s Golf Association Championship Tuesday and finds herself three shots back entering today’s final round.

New Hampshire’s Laura Shanahan-Rowe followed her opening-round 71 with a 74 Tuesday to wrest the lead from Spector.

Spector, who graduated from the University of North Carolina in the spring, is tied for second with Massachusetts’ Dana Harrity at 148.

Shanahan-Rowe, Spector and Harrity will tee off at 9:20 Wednesday morning.

Cape Elizabeth’s Alyssa Hayes, who attends East Carolina University (N.C.) followed her first-round 74 with an 83 Tuesday which leaves her 12 shots off the pace and Turner’s Emily Allen also shot an 83 to give her a two-round total of 170.

Sorenstam likes new role

TULSA, Okla. – Annika Sorenstam is comfortable now as the face of women’s professional golf, although that wasn’t always the case.

In May, the Swedish star solidified her position as the highest-profile player since Nancy Lopez when she became the first woman in 58 years to play in a PGA tournament.

“With the Colonial experience, I was myself,” Sorenstam said in a conference call Tuesday. “I wanted to do it. It’s easier to do it when you do it your way. That’s why I’m more comfortable.”

Sorenstam said LPGA officials have long compared her to Lopez, and wanted her to take on the informal public relations chores Lopez performed on tour.

“They wanted somebody to be like her, and here I was,” Sorenstam said. “They said, ‘Nancy did this,’ and ‘Nancy did that.’ But that just wasn’t me. I said, ‘I’m just here to compete.'”