Pak has LPGA's back on English

South Korea's Se Ri Pak defended the LPGA Tour in the wake of its short-lived plan to suspend players who don't speak English well enough to satisfy sponsors, saying Wednesday that learning the language can benefit rising international stars.

Others at the Bell Micro Classic in Mobile, Ala., the first LPGA tournament since the controversy surfaced, also supported the goal of improving international players' English skills. But they disliked the idea of suspending non-English speakers -- which was proposed and then quickly shelved after a blast of criticism.

Pak, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last November, recalled her struggle to learn English when she started out 11 years ago. She said it's important for young players who don't speak English to learn it so they can discuss their successes on the course.

MORE GOLF

U.S. MID-AMATEUR: Todd Mitchell and Steve Wilson each won two matches Wednesday to advance to the 36-hole final in River Hills, Wis.

Mitchell, from Bloomington, Ill., routed Chris Lange of Bryn Mawr, Pa., 9 and 7, in the morning quarterfinals, and beat Sean Knapp of Oakmont, Pa., 4 and 3, in the afternoon semifinals.

Wilson, from St. Martin, Miss., edged Michael Stamberger of Plainfield, N.J., 2-up, and Michael McCoy of West Des Moines, Iowa, 3 and 1, in the semifinals.

U.S. WOMEN'S MID-AMATEUR: Joan Higgins and Lynn Simmons each won two matches Wednesday to advance to the championship match in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Higgins, from Glendora, Calif., beat Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, 5 and 4, in the quarterfinals, and edged Lynne Cowan of Davis, Calif., in 21 holes in the semifinals.

Simmons, 40, from Phoenix, topped Mina Hardin of Fort Worth, Texas, 4 and 3, and beat Noreen Mohler of Bethlehem, Pa., 2 and 1, in the semifinals.