Boo Weekley, Brendon de Jonge share lead at rainy Zurich Classic

Boo Weekley had an eagle and seven birdies for an eight-under-par 64 and a share of the first-round lead with Brendon de Jonge on Thursday in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

De Jonge, who is from Zimbabwe, had eight birdies at rain-softened TPC Louisiana.

Sean O’Hair and Canada’s David Hearn shot 65 on the Pete Dye-designed layout.

Four of the top six players, including de Jonge, are winless on the PGA Tour.

Tour rookie Mark Hubbard had five consecutive birdies in the middle of his round and finished with a 66. He was tied with Erik Compton, Brian Davis, Greg Owen and Daniel Berger.

Dustin Johnson, ranked No. 7 in the world, was at 67 in a large group that included former Zurich winner K.J. Choi and Jason Day, the highest ranked player in the field at No. 6.

Players were able to lift, clean and place their golf balls in the fairways in anticipation of afternoon rain, which eventually developed and halted play for 1 hour 20 minutes.

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Lydia Ko settled for a tap-in birdie on the par-five 14th after her eagle chip deflected off the pin and the defending champion shot a five-under 67 to take the first-round lead Thursday in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic at Daly City, Calif.

The top-ranked Ko holds a one-stroke lead over three others, including 54-year-old Juli Inkster. Stacy Lewis, last year’s runner-up to Ko at Lake Merced Golf Club, was two strokes back at three under.

Ko will celebrate her 18th birthday on the course Friday. Paired with Anna Nordqvist and Lexi Thompson, Ko pulled on a jacket midway through the round in the afternoon chill and finished strong.

Ko had birdies on consecutive holes three times -- Nos. 5-6, 8-9 and 13-14 -- with just one bogey while playing after a two-week break from competition.

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A trio of European Tour veterans topped the leaderboard after shooting a four-under 68 in difficult conditions in the first round of the Volvo China Open in Shanghai.

Michael Hendry of New Zealand and Bradley Dredge of Wales were the only two golfers to post bogey-free rounds on a day when the firm greens and strong winds caused others to struggle. English golfer David Howell had one bogey to go with five birdies.

They were a stroke ahead of a group of three golfers in fourth that included defending champion Alexander Levy of France.

China’s top player, Li Haotong, and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat both shot 71 to sit in joint 14th place. Last Sunday, Kiradech beat the 19-year-old Li in a playoff to capture the Shenzhen International title.