Golf Roundup : Rizzo’s 66 Is Best of Finishers in Rain-Halted LPGA Round

Patti Rizzo took advantage of an early tee time for a six-under-par 66 and the first-round lead before lightning and rain suspended play Thursday in the LPGA Championship at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Center in Mason, Ohio.

Play was stopped in the tournament, the second of the women’s tour’s major championships, with 72 of the 144 starters still on the course.

Rizzo, 26, held a one-stroke lead over Jane Crafter. Deb Richard, at 68, was another shot back.

Four players on the course when play was halted were at three-under: Kathy Postlewait through 13 holes, Silvia Bertolaccini through 15, Lisa Young through 6 and Val Skinner through 11.

George Burns, who missed the cut in four of his six previous tournaments, took advantage of ideal playing conditions to shoot an eight-under-par 64 and take the first-round lead in the $600,000 Atlanta tournament.

“This is a total surprise,” Burns said after taking a one-shot advantage over long-hitting Davis Love III, who had two eagles in his round and finished birdie-birdie-eagle.

Five others, including brothers Lanny and Bobby Wadkins, were tied at 66, two strokes back.