The Associated Press

JOHNSTON, Iowa - Months after Annika Sorenstam played in a men's tournament, Jan Stephenson could do the same.

Stephenson's agent said Thursday he was working out details of an invitation for the former LPGA star to play in the Turtle Bay Championship on the Champions Tour in Hawaii Oct.  6-12.

"Discussions are in the final stages with just a few particulars to finalize," C.J. Roberts said. "We're on board ready to go."

Roberts said he expects a formal announcement to be made next month. Calls to a Champions Tour spokesman Thursday night were not returned.

If Stephenson does play in the men's senior event, she would follow Sorenstam's historic appearance at the Colonial on the PGA Tour last month.

Though she didn't make the cut, Sorenstam, the first woman to play in a tour event in 58 years, created a frenzy among the media and galleries and endeared herself to fans around the world.

Suzy Whaley, a Connecticut club pro, will play in the Greater Hartford Open in July. Teenage phenom Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's exemption to play on the Nationwide Tour in September and has also been invited to play a stop on the Canadian Tour.

Stephenson, 51, who at the height of her career was one of the biggest stars on the LPGA Tour, is playing in the Hy-Vee Classic just north of Des Moines this weekend. The tournament is the first of three this year on the Women's Senior Golf Tour.

Roberts said Stephenson would not be playing at Turtle Bay to prove she is as good as or better than the men. The idea, he said, is to promote the two senior tours.

"Jan has nothing to prove," Roberts said. "She sees this as an opportunity to raise the awareness for both the men's and women's senior tours. Because right now, we're trying to start the WSGT, and the Champions Tour, quite frankly we all know they could use a boost.

LPGA: Tina Barrett, whose only tour victory came in her rookie year in 1989, birdied the last three holes for a 5-under 67 that gave her a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Rochester (N.Y.) LPGA.

Anna-Jane Eathorne was second, while nine golfers, including defending champion Karrie Webb, had 69s at the tree-lined Locust Hill course.