Saturday, June 14, 2003

Sorenstam 3 behind unlikely leader Yeo in Giant Eagle


The Associated Press

VIENNA, Ohio - Seeking her third win in a row on tour, Annika Sorenstam shot a 1-under-par 71 Friday and was three shots behind leader Minny Yeo after the opening round of the rain-delayed Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.

"It was muddy. I mean, it's soaking wet," Sorenstam said, looking down at the thick, brown mud that had coated her shoes. "If you look at the caddies' and the players' feet - it's unbelievable how muddy it is."

Squaw Creek Country Club might have to be renamed Squall Creek after it was pounded by more than 2 inches of rain this week. The start of the play was delayed an hour because of heavy rain that fell Thursday night.

The field of 144 was allowed to lift, clean and place, but it was still hard to avoid the mini-ponds that cropped up in low-lying areas. Pat Hurst, who shot a 69, said she was forced to chip the ball twice because she couldn't putt through standing water on the green.

Three weeks after becoming the first woman to play in a PGA Tour event at the Colonial, and after wins at the Kellogg-Keebler and in last week's LPGA Championship, Sorenstam didn't arrive here until Thursday night.

She had never seen, let alone played, Squaw Creek, choosing instead to rely on caddie Terry McNamara's calculations and advice to guide her.

She managed four birdies and three bogeys while slogging around the course. A large gallery followed her every swing.

"I'm definitely in good position," Sorenstam said with a smile. "Now I've seen the golf course, so tomorrow I'll have no excuse."

Yeo was an unlikely first-round leader. The Korean has never finished in the top 30 in four years on the LPGA Tour. This season she has missed the eight cut times. Yet she matched her career best Friday with a 68 that included four birdies in a five-hole span on the front side. She was calmed by a call to her husband in California.

"We read the Bible, and we talked about why I've been struggling," Yeo said. "My husband said, 'You've got the game, but you're too afraid of messing it up.' So I came out today and I just had fun."

LPGA Tour

Yardage: 6,446; Par 72 (37-35)

First Round

a-denotes amateur

Minny Yeo35-33-68
Patti Rizzo35-34-69
Michelle McGann33-36-69
Pat Hurst33-36-69
Catrin Nilsmark35-34-69
Marisa Baena35-34-69
Eva Dahllof36-33-69
Liz Earley34-35-69
Kristal Parker-Manzo36-33-69
Lorie Kane35-35-70
Rachel Teske37-33-70
Joanne Mills34-36-70
Michelle Ellis35-35-70
Michele Redman36-34-70
Amy Fruhwirth36-34-70
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman36-34-70
Dottie Pepper35-35-70
Kris Lindstrom37-33-70
Kim Freeman37-34-71
Cindy Rarick34-37-71
Audra Burks35-36-71
Michelle Bell37-34-71
Hilary Lunke37-34-71
Grace Park35-36-71
Kim Williams37-34-71
Catriona Matthew35-36-71
Candie Kung35-36-71
Sherri Steinhauer36-35-71
Lorena Ochoa36-35-71
Jeong Jang37-34-71
Annika Sorenstam36-35-71
Young Kim35-36-71
Janice Moodie36-35-71
Jenny Lidback35-36-71
Jean Bartholomew34-37-71
Beth Bauer37-34-71
A.J. Eathorne37-34-71
Marnie McGuire36-35-71
Pamela Kerrigan35-36-71
Jenna Daniels37-35-72
Penny Hammel35-37-72
Sherri Turner36-36-72
Allison Finney37-35-72
Nicole Dalkas37-35-72
Mhairi McKay38-34-72