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 Yeo	35-33-68
Patti Rizzo	35-34-69
Michelle McGann	33-36-69
Pat Hurst	33-36-69
Catrin Nilsmark	35-34-69
Marisa Baena	35-34-69
Eva Dahllof	36-33-69
Liz Earley	34-35-69
Kristal Parker-Manzo	36-33-69
Lorie Kane	35-35-70
Rachel Teske	37-33-70
Joanne Mills	34-36-70
Michelle Ellis	35-35-70
Michele Redman	36-34-70
Amy Fruhwirth	36-34-70
Vicki Goetze-Ackerman	36-34-70
Dottie Pepper	35-35-70
Kris Lindstrom	37-33-70
Kim Freeman	37-34-71
Cindy Rarick	34-37-71
Audra Burks	35-36-71
Michelle Bell	37-34-71
Hilary Lunke	37-34-71
Grace Park	35-36-71
Kim Williams	37-34-71
Catriona Matthew	35-36-71
Candie Kung	35-36-71
Sherri Steinhauer	36-35-71
Lorena Ochoa	36-35-71
Jeong Jang	37-34-71
Annika Sorenstam	36-35-71
Young Kim	35-36-71
Janice Moodie	36-35-71
Jenny Lidback	35-36-71
Jean Bartholomew	34-37-71
Beth Bauer	37-34-71
A.J. Eathorne	37-34-71
Marnie McGuire	36-35-71
Pamela Kerrigan	35-36-71
Jenna Daniels	37-35-72
Penny Hammel	35-37-72
Sherri Turner	36-36-72
Allison Finney	37-35-72
Nicole Dalkas	37-35-72
Mhairi McKay	38-34-72