PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Yani Tseng, the top-ranked player in the world, shot a 6-under-par 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Paula Creamer after the first round of the LPGA Championship.
The 22-year-old Tseng, already the youngest player to win three majors, made five birdies on the front nine and three more on the back to go with two bogeys as she began her quest for another major title.
Creamer missed a terrific chance to tie — or even take the lead — when she misread a 45-foot eagle putt at the par-5 17th hole and ended up three-putting for par. She then rallied with a birdie at 18, hitting a 7-iron from 150 yards within 2 feet of the pin.
“I gave myself a lot of opportunities. I made a lot of good putts,” Creamer said. “I kind of was kicking myself after 17.”
Angela Stanford, Meena Lee, Diana D’Alessio and Stacy Prammanasudh were at 4-under, while defending champion Cristie Kerr, who was ailing with a light case of the flu, shot an even-par 72.
• Michael Bradley had a one- stroke lead when first-round play in the Travelers Championship was suspended in Cromwell, Conn.
Bradley was 6-under with two holes left when play was stopped at 11:30 a.m. because of rain. Vijay Singh was in a group of seven players a shot back.
• Henrik Stenson shot an 8-under 64 in poor weather to take a one-shot lead over Gary Boyd after the first round of the BMW International Open in Munich, Germany.
Gatlin moves on at nationals
EUGENE, Ore. — After serving his time for a doping ban that crossed a world record and more off his resume, Justin Gatlin returned to a big stage — winning his preliminary heat in the 100 at U.S. nationals and staying very much in the mix for a spot at the world championships.
Gatlin finished in 10.08 seconds and will join 2007 world champion Tyson Gay, 2009 national champion Michael Rodgers and Olympic bronze medalist Walter Dix in the group of 18 vying for three spots on the U.S. world team today.
Jeremy Dodson, a graduate of George Washington High and the University of Colorado, did not advance after finishing in 10.29.
Another CU graduate, Kara Goucher, fared better, placing second in the women’s 10,000 in 31 minutes, 16.65 seconds. Greeley Central High graduate Annie Bersagel was seventh (32:54.08).
Former Adams State athlete Aaron Braun finished eighth (28:48.31) in the men’s 10,000, with ex-CU star Jorge Torres 13th (28:55.74) and Jason Hartmann of Boulder 19th (29:15.91).
CU assistant coach Casey Malone finished sixth in the discus (203 feet, 4 inches) and former Colorado State athlete Brian Trainor was 14th (190-10). Former CSU athlete Drew Loftin finished fifth in the hammer throw (237-6).
Footnotes.
Boston College assistant Joe Jones was hired by Boston University to replace Patrick Chambers as its men’s basketball coach.
• Second-half substitute Roger Levesque scored twice in the second half to give the Seattle Sounders a 4-2 victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls.
The Associated Press
