Gal geared up at rain-delayed LPGA

An afternoon storm packing hail, lightning, and torrential rain interrupted play for three hours at the Locust Hill course in Rochester, N.Y. Poor light then ended play at 8:37 p.m. with 30 players on the course.

Becky Lucidi was in third place at 6 under through 15 holes. Kristy McPherson and Michele Redman were tied for fourth place with 5-under 67s. Tiger Woods’s 18-year-old niece, Cheyenne, carded a 75 in her pro tour debut, which came courtesy of a sponsor exemption. Michelle Wie finished at 3-under 69.

Gal, 24, in her second year on tour, finished with a 15-foot birdie putt for a career-best round. Her best finish is a tie for fifth at last month’s LPGA Corning Classic.

European - Retief Goosen of South Africa shot an 8-under 64 to lead by two after the first round of the rainy BMW International Open in Berlin.

John Daly, who is trying to get his game in shape for the British Open next month, struggled to a 74.

Seve Ballesteros announced the launch of his cancer foundation as he went before the press for the first time since undergoing brain tumor surgery nine months ago. “I want to do my bit to battle this disease,’’ Ballesteros said at a reception in a Madrid hotel. “Just nine months ago my life was hanging by a thread,’’ the 52-year-old Spaniard said.