EDMOND, Okla. - Playing on his home course, Gil Morgan shot a 5-under-par 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over playing partner Peter Jacobsen after the first round of the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Tree Golf Club.
The 59-year-old Morgan, whose home is within walking distance of the Oak Tree clubhouse, had six birdies on the 7,107-yard layout. It was the first full round he had played on his home course since October and his best competitive round there ever.
Jacobsen, who started on No. 10, used consecutive birdies on No. 5, 6 and 7 to move into second place.
Tied at 3-under 68 were: 2001 Senior PGA champion Tom Watson; Jay Haas, who has won his last two Champions Tour events; and Loren Roberts, a three-time winner this year who has yet to finish out of the top 10 in eight previous Champions Tour events.
Defending champion Mike Reid had an opening 71.
Wind, cited by many players before the first major of the year as a potentially decisive factor, wasn't much of one Thursday, staying mostly under 15 mph. But players did deal with significant heat: the daytime high of 96 in nearby Oklahoma City broke the previous record for a May 25 by 3 degrees, and in Guthrie - even closer to the course - it hit 100.
PGA Tour
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Chris Smith used some strong putting and a little creativity around the greens in shooting a 6-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the St. Jude Classic.
Smith, whose lone tour victory was the 2002 Buick Classic, needed only 24 putts in a six-birdie, bogey-free round that easily was his best this year.
D.A. Points shot a 66. Paul Azinger and Tom Pernice were among only four golfers teeing off in the afternoon to crack the top of the leaderboard with 67s, and Azinger said winds gusting to 22 mph made the usually scoring-friendly TPC at Southwind a tough course.
Nick Price, a two-time champion with five Top 10s at the TPC at Southwind, shot a 68 and was tied with seven others including Fred Funk and Mark Calcavecchia.
Defending champion Justin Leonard shot a 72.
LPGA Tour
CORNING, N.Y. - Nancy Scranton, who has 18-month-old twins, shot a 7-under-par 65 and was tied with Meena Lee for the first-round lead at the LPGA Corning Classic.
Brandie Burton, Kris Tamulis, Jeong Jang, Hee-Won Han, and Thai rookie Virada Nirapathpongporn were one shot behind.
Scranton, who didn't want to be reminded that she just turned 45, is one of 24 mothers on tour, and she couldn't remember the last time she was atop a leaderboard. Certainly, long before daughter Libby and son Luke were born.
Scranton, who had only three rounds in the 60s last year, finished in a tie for 14th at last week's rain-shortened Sybase Classic after opening with a 69. Her best finish this year was eighth at the Takefuji Classic last month.
Lee, who tied for second here last year, had eight birdies, one bogey and needed only 24 putts in matching the career low she set earlier this year in winning the Fields Open in Hawaii.
NCAA women
UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio - Defending champion Duke pulled away from the pack and Pepperdine's Eileen Vargas maintained her lead through the third round of the women's NCAA golf championship.
The Blue Devils, chasing their fourth national title, blitzed the field with a 1-under-par 287 to go from a three-shot deficit to Arizona State at the start of the round to a 13-stroke lead over Southern California at the finish.
Duke was at 12-over 876 through 54 holes at Ohio State's reconstructed Scarlet Course.
Freshman Amanda Blumenherst, ranked No. 1 in the nation during the regular season, led the way with a 70 that matched the low round of the day. Elizabeth Janangelo had a 71 and Jennie Lee a 72. Jennifer Pandolfi shot a 74 and 2005 medalist Anna Grzebien parred the first 16 holes before closing with two bogeys to also post a 74.
European PGA
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Paul Casey finished with a birdie-eagle for a 5-under 67 and a share of the lead after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Casey is tied with Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty and Andrew McLardy. Donald hit every fairway and avoiding every bunker for his 67.
Angel Cabrera, David Howell, Peter Lawrie and Raphael Jacquelin were a shot back. A group of 11 at 3 under included Ernie Els, Ian Poulter, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Lawrie.
Retief Goosen, the highest ranked player in the field at No. 3, shot 70.
Jacobsen, who started on No. 10, used consecutive birdies on No. 5, 6 and 7 to move into second place.
Tied at 3-under 68 were: 2001 Senior PGA champion Tom Watson; Jay Haas, who has won his last two Champions Tour events; and Loren Roberts, a three-time winner this year who has yet to finish out of the top 10 in eight previous Champions Tour events.
Defending champion Mike Reid had an opening 71.
Wind, cited by many players before the first major of the year as a potentially decisive factor, wasn't much of one Thursday, staying mostly under 15 mph. But players did deal with significant heat: the daytime high of 96 in nearby Oklahoma City broke the previous record for a May 25 by 3 degrees, and in Guthrie - even closer to the course - it hit 100.
PGA Tour
MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Chris Smith used some strong putting and a little creativity around the greens in shooting a 6-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the St. Jude Classic.
Smith, whose lone tour victory was the 2002 Buick Classic, needed only 24 putts in a six-birdie, bogey-free round that easily was his best this year.
D.A. Points shot a 66. Paul Azinger and Tom Pernice were among only four golfers teeing off in the afternoon to crack the top of the leaderboard with 67s, and Azinger said winds gusting to 22 mph made the usually scoring-friendly TPC at Southwind a tough course.
Nick Price, a two-time champion with five Top 10s at the TPC at Southwind, shot a 68 and was tied with seven others including Fred Funk and Mark Calcavecchia.
Defending champion Justin Leonard shot a 72.
LPGA Tour
CORNING, N.Y. - Nancy Scranton, who has 18-month-old twins, shot a 7-under-par 65 and was tied with Meena Lee for the first-round lead at the LPGA Corning Classic.
Brandie Burton, Kris Tamulis, Jeong Jang, Hee-Won Han, and Thai rookie Virada Nirapathpongporn were one shot behind.
Scranton, who didn't want to be reminded that she just turned 45, is one of 24 mothers on tour, and she couldn't remember the last time she was atop a leaderboard. Certainly, long before daughter Libby and son Luke were born.
Scranton, who had only three rounds in the 60s last year, finished in a tie for 14th at last week's rain-shortened Sybase Classic after opening with a 69. Her best finish this year was eighth at the Takefuji Classic last month.
Lee, who tied for second here last year, had eight birdies, one bogey and needed only 24 putts in matching the career low she set earlier this year in winning the Fields Open in Hawaii.
NCAA women
UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio - Defending champion Duke pulled away from the pack and Pepperdine's Eileen Vargas maintained her lead through the third round of the women's NCAA golf championship.
The Blue Devils, chasing their fourth national title, blitzed the field with a 1-under-par 287 to go from a three-shot deficit to Arizona State at the start of the round to a 13-stroke lead over Southern California at the finish.
Duke was at 12-over 876 through 54 holes at Ohio State's reconstructed Scarlet Course.
Freshman Amanda Blumenherst, ranked No. 1 in the nation during the regular season, led the way with a 70 that matched the low round of the day. Elizabeth Janangelo had a 71 and Jennie Lee a 72. Jennifer Pandolfi shot a 74 and 2005 medalist Anna Grzebien parred the first 16 holes before closing with two bogeys to also post a 74.
European PGA
VIRGINIA WATER, England - Paul Casey finished with a birdie-eagle for a 5-under 67 and a share of the lead after the first round of the BMW Championship.
Casey is tied with Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty and Andrew McLardy. Donald hit every fairway and avoiding every bunker for his 67.
Angel Cabrera, David Howell, Peter Lawrie and Raphael Jacquelin were a shot back. A group of 11 at 3 under included Ernie Els, Ian Poulter, Jose Maria Olazabal and Paul Lawrie.
Retief Goosen, the highest ranked player in the field at No. 3, shot 70.
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