Roethlisberger accuser allegedly target of harrassing calls

The woman who accused Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger of rape had to change her telephone number after she said she received more than 100 threats and harassing telephone calls since she filed a civil lawsuit against the football star.

Andrea McNulty of Gardnerville filed a complaint Thursday with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

She said the callers left threats that “If you don't stop this, something's going to happen,” and calling her names.

McNulty, 30, said the telephone calls began July 21 when news of the lawsuit broke.

Most of the telephone numbers were blocked, but deputies traced two telephone messages to Pittsburgh and Miami. They were unable to contact the callers.

McNulty said all the callers were men except one from “squealing girls.”

Deputies told her to keep a log of the calls and advised her to change her telephone number, which McNulty said she would.

In a lawsuit filed July 17 in Washoe County, McNulty claimed that Roethlisberger raped her in July 2008 while he was participating in the American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.

She worked at Harrah's Tahoe casi no as a VIP host during the golf tour nament where Roethlisberger was a guest.

McNulty never reported the alleged assault which Roethlisberger, 27, has denied. She claimed Harrah's officials, whom she named in the lawsuit, pres sured her to keep quiet.

The lawsuit was served on Roethlisberger July 18 as he participat ed in this year's tournament.

Although Harrah's spokespeople have declined to discuss the allegations in detail, they have said they believe the employees of Harrah's who are named in the suit will be absolved of any alleged wrong-doing.

“We are confident that once all the facts are brought to light, a much different story will emerge and our employees will be dismissed from the case,” Harrah's Entertainment spokeswoman Jacqueline Peterson said in a statement. “It is also impor tant to note that Harrah's Entertainment is not a party to this case and we will have no further comment at this time.”

Blistering heat and a blistered foot served only to bring out the best in young German star Martin Kaymer at Le Golf National.

The 24 year old began the Open de France ALSTOM with a course record-equalling 62.

So bad was Kaymer's right foot that as well as being seen by a doctor he had a hole cut in his golf shoe to allow him to play Wednesday's pro-am.

With the help of his three partners he won that by four with an amazing 16 under par best-ball of 55, but to be only seven worse than that on his own underlined what a massive talent he is.

"I've been missing a lot of short putts, but everything came together - and I hope it continues," he said after taking a three stroke lead over England's 2006 winner John Bickerton, Thai Thongchai Jaidee, Australian Scott Strange, Swede Peter Hanson and Argentina's Rafa Echenique - the man who was second to Nick Dougherty in Munich last week after a closing albatross.

"The foot's still hurting, but I will survive," added Kaymer. "Yesterday when I was practising it was unbelievable pain, but now I don't worry about it."

Kaymer's round actually began with a bogey, but after five birdies in the next nine holes he chipped in for eagle at the long third and finished with three more birdies for an inward 30.

Bickerton, 40 later this year, said: "I've not been playing well, but these things happen in golf and you have to try and kick on and improve.

"I've changed a few things in my set-up. I was getting very crouched and very lazy and hadn’t even noticed myself, so it was important to address those issues.

“The fairways are tight here but if you do get the ball in the right places then you can get the ball close to the hole and the greens are quite receptive. You have to hole to the putts though and it was nice to have a good day out there for a change.”

Dougherty followed up his win with a 66 and Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie, without a top ten finish since he was runner-up in this event last year, returned a 69.

Miguel Angel Jiménez, whose 500th European Tour event began with a hook into the water, hit back for a 67 and fellow Spaniard Pablo Larrazábal, the defending champion, matched that with five birdies in the last six holes - after a triple bogey eight on the ninth.

“This is a golf course that you need to take special care around,” warned Jiménez. “The course is in great condition so I think that I played well and that four under par is good for the day. I started with a bogey and dropped another one on the fourth, but it was a good round and I played well, very solid and made some putts.

“Golf is my life and has given me everything. To play 500 tournaments is a great achievement and makes me proud.”