Stanford (62) sets mark, takes leads in Safeway
Angela Stanford shot a career-best 10-under-par 62 yesterday to break the Prospector Course record and take a three-stroke lead over defending champion Lorena Ochoa in the
Stanford, the 2003 ShopRite LPGA Tour Classic winner, had a bogey-free round, with six birdies in a front-nine 30 and birdies on the final two holes for a back-nine 32.
"It all happened so slowly," Stanford said. "I'm still in a fog. It's just one of those days you can't even get in your own way."
The 30-year-old Texan broke the course record of 63 set by Cristie Kerr in 2004, and topped her previous career best of 64 in the first round of the 2006 Canadian Open.
Ochoa, the Mexican star who won the tournament last year for the first of her eight 2007 titles, had nine birdies and two bogeys. She won the
"I'm going to try to be aggressive [today] and try to catch her. Maybe I can beat that," Ochoa said after congratulating Stanford on her round.
Sherri Steinhauer was third after a 66, Karen Stupples, Jee Young Lee, Yani Tseng, and Heather Young shot 67s, and Michele Redman, Sophie Gustafson, and Na Yeon Choi followed at 68. Three-time winner Annika Sorenstam birdied the final two holes to match Paula Creamer with a 69.
"I finished strong and got a little momentum," said Sorenstam.
PGA - Refreshed after a couple of weeks off, Dean Wilson birdied three of the last four holes in windy conditions for a 6-under 66 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Zurich Classic in Avondale, La.
Wilson played eight straight tournaments before taking the break.
"I've struggled a little bit," Wilson said. "I took a couple weeks off and just went home and tried to clear my brain and just play golf rather than maybe sit on the range and fiddle with my swing. I think that helped."
Briny Baird, Peter Lonard, and Chez Reavie opened with 67s.
Baird got to 6 under with an eagle on the par-4 sixth and a birdie on the par-5 seventh, but finished with a bogey on No. 9 to drop back to 5 under.
On the sixth, he holed out from 208 yards with a 5-wood.
Steve Elkington, Vaughn Taylor, Jay Williamson, Cameron Beckman, and John Mallinger opened with 69s.
European - Lee Westwood shot a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead at the Andalucia Open in Puerto Banus, Spain.
The event's defending champion sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the first hole, then picked up five more birdies through the 10th at the Aloha Golf Club.
Danny Willett and Jan-Are Larsen were tied for second at 66.
