Thirteen-year-old Casie has hole in
one at LPGA Tour event
FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- Sophie Gustafson is on a bit of a roll, one that's been long overdue.
Gustafson, the long-hitting Swede who won the last of her four career LPGA Tour victories in 2003, shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Gustafson had eight birdies and a bogey on the Blackhawk Country Club course, continuing her recent streak of solid performances that include three top-10 finishes in her previous five tournaments.
"You never know what can happen, but it's always nice to have that bit of history," Gustafson said. "I have good confidence now. It is never enough, though."
Sophia Sheridan, playing in her third tour event of the year, matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had five straight birdies in a 68 that left her three strokes back along with 2006 winner Karrie Webb, Shanshan Feng, Kyeong Bae and Mikaela Parmlid.
Jiyai Shin opened with a 72. She has a tour-high three victories, leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list.
Defending champion In-Kyung Kim struggled to a 73.
Ochoa was in the middle of the pack before the string of five consecutive birdies pushed her near the top of the leaderboard. She came up a foot short of an eagle on the par-5 No. 11 then ran her birdie attempt on No. 13 just left of the cup, then had a bogey on No. 14 to drop four strokes back.
"It was a good day," Ochoa said. "It is getting a lot more harder than the practice rounds. This course is one where you need to have a good strategy because if it gets a little bit windy, it (could) be tough."
Gustafson had it fairly easy all afternoon. She had four birdies over a six-hole span on the front to hit the turn at 4 under, then added another four birdies on the back nine. Only a bogey on No. 14 -- a hole that seemed to give nearly every player fits -- prevented Gustafson from extending her lead.
A member of the European Solheim Cup team, Gustafson missed the cut in four straight tournaments beginning in May and also missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open before starting to turn her season around with a runner-up finish at the Evian Masters in late July, losing to Ai Miyazato in a one-hole playoff.
The Swede had to save par out of the sand twice Thursday and stayed out of trouble the rest of the afternoon to take the first-round lead.
Casie Cathrea, a 13-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption after winning a qualifier Monday, made a hole-in-one on the 155-yard 12th and finished with a 74.
Cathrea had a small crowd following her all afternoon and the bubbly teenager gave them something to remember with her ace on No. 12. But the high school freshman had a double bogey on No. 13 and bogeyed No. 14 to fall off the pace.
"It went OK today," Cathrea said. "I wasn't actually like hyped up until I got to the golf course and I knew I was finally here. Mostly I just really wanted to play with the Tour people and see what they do differently than I do so I could learn what they do."
Sheridan, whose previous career-low was a 70, was 2 under at the turn before making her run. She had a birdie on No. 10, eagled No. 11, then added another birdie on the par-5 No. 15th before a bogey on No. 16 left her tied for second.
Ochoa had predicted scores would be lower at Blackhawk than in past tournaments and she was right. Thirty-five players broke par and 10 were within four shots of the leader.
Webb was one of four former tournament winners within striking range. Suzann Pettersen and Helen Alfredsson were four shots back at 69, while Christina Kim had a 70. Two-time winner Juli Inkster opened with a 71, and Se Ri Pak had a 72.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Blackhawk Country Club, Danville, California
Par 72
65 Sophie Gustafson (Swe)
67 Sophia Sheridan (Mex), Angela Stanford, Na Ri Kim (Kor)
68 Mikaela Parmlid (Swe), Karrie Webb (Aus), Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Kyeong Bae (Kor), Shanshan Feng (Chn)
69 Joo Mi Kim (Kor), Kim Welch, Jennifer Rosales (Phi), Beth Bader, Anna Grzebien, Maria Hjorth (Swe), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Karine Icher (Fra), Yani Tseng (Tai)
70 Meena Lee (Kor), Jamie Hullett, Reilley Rankin, Diana D'Alessio, Wendy Ward, Sandra Gal (Ger), Christina Kim, Leta Lindley, Kris Tamulis, Stephanie Louden, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa), Lisa Strom, Alena Sharp (Can), Kris Tschetter, Amanda Blumenherst
71 Chella Choi (Kor), Juli Inkster, Catriona Matthew (Sco), Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang, Paula Creamer, Vicky Hurst, Teresa Lu (Tai), Stacy Lewis, Sarah Kemp (Aus), Hye Jung Choi (Kor)
72 Minea Blomqvist (Fin), Amy Yang, Brittany Lincicome, Katie Futcher, Michele Redman, Mindy Kim, Jiyai Shin (Kor), Rachel Hetherington (Aus), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Audra Burks, Moira Dunn, Hee-Won Han (Kor), Haeji Kang (Kor), Kim Hall, Ji-Young Oh (Kor), Johanna Mundy (Eng), Eva Dahllof (Swe), Katherine Hull (Aus)
73 Cindy Rarick, Karen Stupples (Eng), Sarah Lee, Kristy McPherson, Pat Hurst, Dorothy Delasin, Candie Kung (Tai), Jee Young Lee (Kor), Marisa Baena, In-Kyung Kim (Kor), Natalie Gulbis, Jimin Jeong, Eunjung Yi (Kor), Allison Fouch, Janice Moodie (Sco)
74 Wendy Doolan (Aus), Becky Lucidi, Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor), Paige Mackenzie, Jill McGill, Young Kim (Kor), Louise Stahle (Swe), Julieta Granada (Par), Anna Rawson (Aus), Sung Ah Yim (Kor), Carolina Llano, Mollie Fankhauser, Becky Morgan (Wal), Meaghan Francella, Amy Hung (Tai), Casie Cathrea
75 Stacy Prammanasudh, Mika Miyazato (Jpn), Giulia Sergas (Ita), Sun Young Yoo (Kor), Jin Joo Hong (Kor), Brandi Jackson, Charlotte Mayorkas, In-Bee Park (Kor), Russy Gulyanamitta (Tha), Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Jane Park, M.J. Hur (Kor), Karin Sjodin (Swe), Marcy Hart, Hee Young Park (Kor)
76 Heather Young, Taylor Leon, Irene Cho, Lorie Kane (Can), Louise Friberg (Swe), Jin young Pak (Kor), Carri Wood, Erica Blasberg, Laura Diaz, Nicole Castrale
77 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Jimin Kang (Kor), Il Mi Chung (Kor), Sophie Giquel (Fra), Meg Mallon, Danielle Downey
78 Jeanne Cho-Hunicke, Sarah-Jane Smith (Aus), Jeehae Lee (Kor)
79 Becky Iverson
82 Meredith Duncan
83 Leah Wigger
WD: Soo-Yun Kang (Kor)
one at LPGA Tour event
FROM THE PGA.COM WEBSITE
DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) -- Sophie Gustafson is on a bit of a roll, one that's been long overdue.
Gustafson, the long-hitting Swede who won the last of her four career LPGA Tour victories in 2003, shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Gustafson had eight birdies and a bogey on the Blackhawk Country Club course, continuing her recent streak of solid performances that include three top-10 finishes in her previous five tournaments.
"You never know what can happen, but it's always nice to have that bit of history," Gustafson said. "I have good confidence now. It is never enough, though."
Sophia Sheridan, playing in her third tour event of the year, matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had five straight birdies in a 68 that left her three strokes back along with 2006 winner Karrie Webb, Shanshan Feng, Kyeong Bae and Mikaela Parmlid.
Jiyai Shin opened with a 72. She has a tour-high three victories, leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list.
Defending champion In-Kyung Kim struggled to a 73.
Ochoa was in the middle of the pack before the string of five consecutive birdies pushed her near the top of the leaderboard. She came up a foot short of an eagle on the par-5 No. 11 then ran her birdie attempt on No. 13 just left of the cup, then had a bogey on No. 14 to drop four strokes back.
"It was a good day," Ochoa said. "It is getting a lot more harder than the practice rounds. This course is one where you need to have a good strategy because if it gets a little bit windy, it (could) be tough."
Gustafson had it fairly easy all afternoon. She had four birdies over a six-hole span on the front to hit the turn at 4 under, then added another four birdies on the back nine. Only a bogey on No. 14 -- a hole that seemed to give nearly every player fits -- prevented Gustafson from extending her lead.
A member of the European Solheim Cup team, Gustafson missed the cut in four straight tournaments beginning in May and also missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open before starting to turn her season around with a runner-up finish at the Evian Masters in late July, losing to Ai Miyazato in a one-hole playoff.
The Swede had to save par out of the sand twice Thursday and stayed out of trouble the rest of the afternoon to take the first-round lead.
Casie Cathrea, a 13-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption after winning a qualifier Monday, made a hole-in-one on the 155-yard 12th and finished with a 74.
Cathrea had a small crowd following her all afternoon and the bubbly teenager gave them something to remember with her ace on No. 12. But the high school freshman had a double bogey on No. 13 and bogeyed No. 14 to fall off the pace.
"It went OK today," Cathrea said. "I wasn't actually like hyped up until I got to the golf course and I knew I was finally here. Mostly I just really wanted to play with the Tour people and see what they do differently than I do so I could learn what they do."
Sheridan, whose previous career-low was a 70, was 2 under at the turn before making her run. She had a birdie on No. 10, eagled No. 11, then added another birdie on the par-5 No. 15th before a bogey on No. 16 left her tied for second.
Ochoa had predicted scores would be lower at Blackhawk than in past tournaments and she was right. Thirty-five players broke par and 10 were within four shots of the leader.
Webb was one of four former tournament winners within striking range. Suzann Pettersen and Helen Alfredsson were four shots back at 69, while Christina Kim had a 70. Two-time winner Juli Inkster opened with a 71, and Se Ri Pak had a 72.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
Blackhawk Country Club, Danville, California
Par 72
65 Sophie Gustafson (Swe)
67 Sophia Sheridan (Mex), Angela Stanford, Na Ri Kim (Kor)
68 Mikaela Parmlid (Swe), Karrie Webb (Aus), Lorena Ochoa (Mex), Kyeong Bae (Kor), Shanshan Feng (Chn)
69 Joo Mi Kim (Kor), Kim Welch, Jennifer Rosales (Phi), Beth Bader, Anna Grzebien, Maria Hjorth (Swe), Helen Alfredsson (Swe), Suzann Pettersen (Nor), Karine Icher (Fra), Yani Tseng (Tai)
70 Meena Lee (Kor), Jamie Hullett, Reilley Rankin, Diana D'Alessio, Wendy Ward, Sandra Gal (Ger), Christina Kim, Leta Lindley, Kris Tamulis, Stephanie Louden, Ashleigh Simon (Rsa), Lisa Strom, Alena Sharp (Can), Kris Tschetter, Amanda Blumenherst
71 Chella Choi (Kor), Juli Inkster, Catriona Matthew (Sco), Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang, Paula Creamer, Vicky Hurst, Teresa Lu (Tai), Stacy Lewis, Sarah Kemp (Aus), Hye Jung Choi (Kor)
72 Minea Blomqvist (Fin), Amy Yang, Brittany Lincicome, Katie Futcher, Michele Redman, Mindy Kim, Jiyai Shin (Kor), Rachel Hetherington (Aus), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Audra Burks, Moira Dunn, Hee-Won Han (Kor), Haeji Kang (Kor), Kim Hall, Ji-Young Oh (Kor), Johanna Mundy (Eng), Eva Dahllof (Swe), Katherine Hull (Aus)
73 Cindy Rarick, Karen Stupples (Eng), Sarah Lee, Kristy McPherson, Pat Hurst, Dorothy Delasin, Candie Kung (Tai), Jee Young Lee (Kor), Marisa Baena, In-Kyung Kim (Kor), Natalie Gulbis, Jimin Jeong, Eunjung Yi (Kor), Allison Fouch, Janice Moodie (Sco)
74 Wendy Doolan (Aus), Becky Lucidi, Shi Hyun Ahn (Kor), Paige Mackenzie, Jill McGill, Young Kim (Kor), Louise Stahle (Swe), Julieta Granada (Par), Anna Rawson (Aus), Sung Ah Yim (Kor), Carolina Llano, Mollie Fankhauser, Becky Morgan (Wal), Meaghan Francella, Amy Hung (Tai), Casie Cathrea
75 Stacy Prammanasudh, Mika Miyazato (Jpn), Giulia Sergas (Ita), Sun Young Yoo (Kor), Jin Joo Hong (Kor), Brandi Jackson, Charlotte Mayorkas, In-Bee Park (Kor), Russy Gulyanamitta (Tha), Seon Hwa Lee (Kor), Jane Park, M.J. Hur (Kor), Karin Sjodin (Swe), Marcy Hart, Hee Young Park (Kor)
76 Heather Young, Taylor Leon, Irene Cho, Lorie Kane (Can), Louise Friberg (Swe), Jin young Pak (Kor), Carri Wood, Erica Blasberg, Laura Diaz, Nicole Castrale
77 Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Jimin Kang (Kor), Il Mi Chung (Kor), Sophie Giquel (Fra), Meg Mallon, Danielle Downey
78 Jeanne Cho-Hunicke, Sarah-Jane Smith (Aus), Jeehae Lee (Kor)
79 Becky Iverson
82 Meredith Duncan
83 Leah Wigger
WD: Soo-Yun Kang (Kor)
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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