By STEVE WILLIAMS

Check out the LPGA Tour stats after the Standard Register Ping tournament that ended March 18. You know, the event where Annika Sorenstam fired a second-round 59 on her way to a record 27-under for 72 holes. Se Ri Pak shot 25 under and settled for second.

That kind of play helps out on the Tour statistics. Following that tourney, Sorenstam ranked first in percentage of rounds under par with 13 of 14 (.929) and Pak was third with 12 of 15 (.800).

Right in the middle of those two superstars is Tour rookie Marcy Newton of High Point, our Triad Golf Today "Cover Girl" for March. Newton has had a superb debut on Tour, posting seven under-par scores in eight rounds (.875).

After getting into the Welch’s/CircleK Championship (March 8-11) as an alternate, Newton proceeded to birdie the first hole of her LPGA career and went on to make 13 more birdies during the tournament. The fact that she made only four bogeys was just as important as she posted a tally of 69-71-69-69 to tie for 16^th place. She was only one shot out of the top 10 and earned a nice $9,899 payday.

She carried a hot putter all week, averaging just 28.5 putts per round.

Newton picked up another healthy check ($8,259) the following week with a tie for 26^th in the Standard Register Ping event.

After just two events, she stands second on the Rolex Rookie of the Year standings with 62 points, five behind Heather Zakhar, who has played in six tourneys due to her exempt status.

With a goal of finishing in the top 90 and earning exempt status for 2002, Newton is off to a good start. She ranks 72^nd on the money list with $18,158.

But since she has only limited status this year, she will need to get more sponsor exemptions or else make it through Monday qualifiers to get enough chances to earn her way into the top 90.

The next event on the LPGA schedule is the City of Hope Classic in Los Angeles April 12-15. Newton hopes to be in the field.

Scott Newton, Marcy’s brother, is a member of the Canadian Tour where he is exempt after a 45^th –place finish on the 2000 Order of Merit.

But he was disappointed with his play in the Tour’s first venture down south.

After a four-week run at Myrtle Beach’s Barefoot resort, Newton is 77^th on the money list with $1,371. He played consistently in the Barefoot Classic, shooting 71-70-71 to tie for 30^th and opened with a 68 in the Can Am Days Championship only to follow with 76-79. He missed the cut in the other two events.

He will be working on his game and eyesight (laser surgery) before the Canadian Tour resumes north of the border June 14-17 in Victoria, B.C.

The Barefoot series was kind to one area player, however. Ex-UNC Chapel Hill star Patrick Moore picked up $24,550 in the four tourneys and ranks sixth on the Order of Merit.

Birdies were falling for the Burlington duo of Ray Womack and Jimmy Simmons at the 5^th annual CGA Bahamas Four-Ball Championship Feb. 21-25.

They had seven final-round birdies to win the event in Freeport, Grand Bahama by two shots over Jack Nance of Pinehurst and Wayne Petty of Burlington. Womack-Jimmy Simmons became the first team to win the event three consecutive years.

Simmons-Womack had rounds of 69-73-67 for 209 while Nance-Petty shot 73-69-69 for 211.

With four teams within one shot of each other heading into the final day,

Womack-Simmons birdied the first three holes to take command.

Simmons added birdies at 11, 15 and 17 to hold off a charge by Nance-Petty.

Pros that fail to make the cut in a PGA Tour event don’t have to catch a ride out of town on Fridays anymore.

There’s a new event for the guys that don’t reserve a tee time for the weekend: The Saturday Series Pro-Am, an official event of the Tour.

Founded by PGA Tour member Gary Hallberg, the Saturday Series is actually in its fourth year. There were only seven events the first year, 20 in 1999 and 25 last year.

There are 35 dates on the Saturday Series this year and one of the new ones will be played on the Saturday of the Greater Greensboro Chrysler Classic. The venue hasn’t been confirmed yet, but it will be a top course in the Greensboro area.

Amateurs can put up $1,500 and get to play with a PGA Tour pro in a fivesome. The fee includes all the golf costs, breakfast and prizes. The amateurs can win gift packs and also qualify to play in a season-ending event in early December against other winning teams. Points for total net birdies, eagles and double eagles determine the winners.

A maximum field consists of 88 amateurs and 22 pros.

Interested amateurs can sign up by calling 1-888-806-9279 or checking out the web site at www.saturdayseries.com.

The NGA-Hooters Tour is making its way north and will stop in the Triad at Pine Knolls in Kernersville April 2-8.

Three players from the Triad have posted top-15 finishes in NGA events so far this season but haven’t been consistent enough to gain a very high rank on the points list.

Elliot Gealy of Salisbury stands 32^nd in points and has won $4,608. He got most of his cash with a tie for fifth in the Southern Hills Classic March 4 in Macon, Ga., when he picked up a $2,750 check.

Brian Sharp of Winston-Salem tied for 8^th in the NGA Carolina Classic March 18, shooting 65-72-69. He collected $2,100 and moved to 38^th on the points list.

Ryan Gioffre of Greensboro used a 15^th place-finish in the NGA’s event at North Augusta, S.C. March 11 to cash a $1,618 check. He’s 50^th on the season rankings through events of March 18.

The Tour is top-heavy in its payouts. One win and some other high finishes have earned Justin Bolli of Roswell, Ga. the top rung on the cash ladder with $33,400.