Webb Gives Sorenstam Early Challenge at LPGA

Ankle-deep rough and brick-hard greens might not be the stiffest challenges facing Annika Sorenstam in her bid for the second leg of the Grand Slam.

The real threat Thursday was a familiar name on the leaderboard: Karrie Webb.

Webb, seemingly in hibernation the first part of the season, combined power and putting to surge into the lead at the LPGA Championship, at five under par through 15 holes when thunderstorms suspended the first round at Wilmington, Del.

“I felt good on the course,� Webb said. “The rough is still up and the greens are just as firm. I’m glad they kept it that way. There’s not one easy shot to play, so that keeps me focused.�

The clubhouse leader was Beth Daniel, whose four-under 67 was her lowest opening round in a major championship in 20 years, dating to a 67 in the 1982 du Maurier Classic.

Sorenstam, trying to become the first woman in 16 years to win the first two legs of the Grand Slam, started missing greens on her back nine and stumbled home to a one-under 70.

“It’s always good to be under par at a major,� Sorenstam said.

“If you’re not on your game, it’s going to be tough to score out here.�

Sure enough, only six players among the early starters managed to break par.

Lorie Kane of Canada was at three under through 12 holes, and Natascha Fink of Austria was at three under through 10.

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Former club pro Ted Goin birdied his last three holes for a two-under 68 and shared the lead with Tom Kite and journeyman Mike Smith after the opening round of the PGA Seniors Championship at Akron, Ohio.

Goin, a 52-year-old playing his second year on the Senior PGA Tour, was two over par through seven holes but recovered down the stretch to get into contention. A 15-year club pro at The Plantation in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., Goin has made the cut in all 10 senior tournaments he has played this year.

Defending champion Tom Watson shot a 69, as did Fuzzy Zoeller, who is seeking his first victory in his first year on the over-50 tour. They were joined by Jim Thorpe and Wayne Levi.

Larry Nelson, who won two PGA Championships and a U.S. Open during the 1980s, was two under through 15 holes but found trouble on the 635-yard 16th. After driving into the right rough, he hit a recovery shot into the fairway. His third shot rolled through the green before he chipped to eight feet and missed the par putt. He bogeyed the closing hole to finish at even-par.

Jack Nicklaus rolled in a 40-foot putt on the 17th to get to even-par, then three-putted from about the same distance on the last hole and finished with a 71.

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Loren Roberts shot a seven-under 64 and took a one-stroke lead in the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y. Jerry Kelly, Michael Muehr and Bob Heintz are tied for second.

After playing the first four holes in one over par, Roberts had nine birdies and a bogey in a 12-hole stretch. On the 17th, he holed a 20-yard lob.

Chris Smith and David Gossett shot 66s, and Retief Goosen, preparing for his U.S. Open title defense next week, was three strokes back at 67 along with Stewart Cink, Steve Elkington, Robert Allenby, Jim Carter, Pat Perez, John Rollins and Craig Parry.

Sergio Garcia and Ernie Els were in a group at 68.

Pro Football

Andy Katzenmoyer missed the start of the New England Patriots’ minicamp, raising concerns that he may not return after missing last season because of neck problems.

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Linebacker Stephen Boyd, the Detroit Lions’ third all-time leading tackler, is retiring after seven years with the team.

WNBA

Jamie Redd came off the injured list and scored all of her 13 points in the second half to lead the Seattle Storm to another comeback win as it beat the Charlotte Sting, 65-59, before 3,927 at Seattle.

Redd, who had been out with a knee injury, played 13 minutes as a reserve in her first game of the season and helped Seattle to its franchise-best winning streak of three games.

Sue Bird had 17 points and seven assists for the Storm (3-1). She made a three-pointer with 6:50 left that broke a 46-46 tie.

Reserve Tammy Sutton-Brown had a team-high 11 points and six rebounds for the Sting (2-1).

In other WNBA games, Tamicha Jackson had 15 points and eight assists and Sylvia Crawley scored 14 points to lead the Portland Fire (1-4) past the Sacramento Monarchs, 86-73, before 6,441 at Portland, Ore. Reserve Ruthie Bolton led the Monarchs (0-2) with 21 points.... Chasity Melvin scored 19 points to lead the Cleveland Rockers (1-1) to a 72-55 victory over the Detroit Shock (0-5) before 5,957 at Cleveland. Penny Taylor had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Rockers.

Miscellany

Jason Leffler earned his third NASCAR trucks pole of the season with a qualifying lap of 180.519 mph at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth.

Leffler will start his Dodge on the front row for today’s O’Reilly 400 with hometown-favorite David Starr, the series points leader, in a Chevrolet.

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Mia Hamm, who has not played this season while recovering from knee surgery, will return to the Washington Freedom on Wednesday for its Women’s United Soccer Assn. game against the Boston Breakers.

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Theron Smith, the nation’s seventh-leading rebounder last season for Ball State, will have surgery today for a torn ligament in his right knee.

Coach Tim Buckley said he expected Smith, who averaged 19.6 points and 10.6 rebounds, to be back with the team by the start of practice in October.

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Notre Dame running back Cory Jones, who did not play as a freshman, has decided to transfer to Washington to be closer to his home in Seattle.

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The 33rd South Bay All-Star Baseball Classic, featuring 36 seniors, will be at 7 tonight at El Segundo Recreation Park.