Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - August 14, 2006, Winnipeg, Manitoba Monday a gust 14, 2006 c1 critics prey on Vick Falcons a a says its super bowl sports that matters not his stats c3 editor Julian Rachey 697-7285 i i classified c8 Kerr conquers London links wins Canadian women a open after Stanford blows late Lead by Chris Johnston l Ondon ont. ? the Sun had dipped below the towering Trees at London Hunt and country club As Cristie Kerr stood on the Dri ving Range preparing for a playoff that would never happen. Even when the nearby crowd groaned As Angela Stanford made a three putt on the final Hole to give Kerr the in Canadian women a open Kerr did to believe she had completed a comeback from eight behind until she was in the arms of franc Erik Stevens. I just said i can to believe it. I can to believe its been that kind of Stanford talked about How difficult it is to win an Lyga event and then went out and showed How easy it is to lose one. Kerr came out of the pack to catch the i just third round Leader said with a 7-under 65 yesterday to win the $1.7-?i can to million us event. The believe it. Eight stroke come i can to Back was the largest on the Lyga tour this believe season. its been i played a perfect round of Golf today that kind and that a what it of Day took said Kerr who earned $255,000 for ? Cristie Kerr the win. Her 65 was eight strokes better than the fourth round on ship in May. On that Day outside was full of Praise for her playing part average but she was still trailing by a Nashville Kerr had a 67 and Stanford Ner. Shot when it was All Over. Shot a 73. She came from even farther what really impresses me about Stanford then made bogey from the behind to secure her eighth Lyga Vic Cristie is that she can pull it out of he Sand on the Tough Par-3 17th ? she was tory and second this season. Hat when she needs to Kane said. 0-for-4 on Sand saves in the final round Kerr a round really got going on the she a a very determined Young lady ? before bog eying 18 for a 74 that left seventh Hole when she made the first and has a great Golf game. Cristie had her alone in second place. Of three straight birdies. She played the it All it was a shocking finish for a player final 12 holes in 6-under Par but her up Stanford gave herself several oppor who led Here from very Early in the and Down from the Sand on no. 17 to unities yesterday to get some distance first round until the 72nd Hole. Save Par was As big As any. On the Field but could to find the Range All Day Long i Felt i had control said a Large gallery had the Chance to see with her Putter ? the club that has Stanford who started the Day with a Kerr a splendid round As she was play probably most held her career Lead. I Felt like i was in a ing alongside fan Favourite Lorie Kane still it took an unlikely 65 on a diff Good spot All Day Long. I never really of Charlottetown who shot a 75 and Fin cult Golf course for her to she had lost control until 17.? shed in a tie for 16th. Kim Brozer of it was do Vul for the duo. red Deer alta., was the next Best Cana Canadian press Stanford also surrendered a four shot Dian in 37th after a 76. Lead to Kerr in the final round of the Kane walked off the 18th at London Franklin american mortgage Champi make tourney a major again c4 Hunt blowing kisses to the fans and Gold eyes need to find winning attitude ? and fast k Ansas City Kansas ? it would be Nice to have some thing cheery and positive to write about the Winnipeg Gold eyes but its just not there. Having spent most of the sum Mer chronicling the ups and Downs of this club its hard to believe in them. In fact we re not sure they believe in themselves and that Sas Strong an indict ment of a professional sports team As they come. Its sort of like standing Over a pie with one piece missing a Fork in your hand and Cherry filling on your Chin. No one is going to believe your pleas about not eating a slice. You re guilty and there Are indications the same can be said of these fish. Don to get us wrong they try hard and come to play every Day but its to the Point where we wonder if they arrive at the Park expecting to win. The Gold eyes did manage a Victory yesterday hanging a 7-4 loss on the Home Side Kansas City to Bones before a crowd of 5,925 at Community Ameri Ca Ballpark. The win was just the third in Winnipeg a last 14 games and the second of a six game Road trip. After starting the second half with an 11-3 run the fish Are now 13-16 and sit third in the West division but first in the wild card race. They Lead the wild card Chase by two games with 19 left in the season. Were the season to end tomorrow this club would be trucking Down to Fargo for a first round showdown with the red Hawks. Trouble is there Are three weeks to go and the fish need to immediately pull out of their worst swoon of the summer. The one positive Point for the Gold eyes is their schedule Over the next week. They play the next six games at Home and they re much better in Winnipeg than on the Road with a 27-13 record in their own Park and a 13-24 Mark As visitors. Its difficult however to see these Gold eyes going on a tear and manag ing to hold on to the wild card berth they currently own. They just Haven to shown us anything this season to make us think they can turn it around. Its not that they re a bad team ? this club ranks second in team hitting and the same in team pitching but they never seem to put it together. They choked Down the stretch in the first half and it looks like another gag Job Here in the second half of the season. Coming Home for six games at can West global Park where the Best fans in the league spoil them night after night its time for a Little payback men. Playing in Winnipeg comes with Perks but also with obligations. The Good times at Earls and the Palomino Don to come for free. Its expected you la win in Exchange for your place in the Sun. Rookie manager Rick Forney has been frantically trying to make a late season Deal to infuse his lineup with some pop As his bats have gone silent at a terrible time. The leagues Trade deadline is fast approaching and Ros ters Are set As of aug. 20. Forney has been criticized in his clubhouse for making too Many moves this season but standing Pat with this Crew does to seem prudent. The Gold eyes have missed the Post season two seasons running and a third autumn without baseball in Winnipeg is looming. The race is on in a variety of ways. The suddenly hot Edmonton Cracker cats Are banging away at the wild card door and they arrive tomorrow for a three game set. Winnipeg a win Streak is at one game and there a no better time than now to extend it. Rip off a few wins Over the next week and the Hunt will continue. Roll Over and its another Winter of Tough questions. ;