Laura Baugh Shares Lead in Vermont

Laura Baugh, seeking her first victory in 17 years on the LPGA tour before she leaves to have her fourth child, tied for the first-round lead Thursday in a $450,000 LPGA tournament at Stratton Mountain, Va.

Baugh and last week’s winner, Deb Richard, matched strokes in the same threesome for four-under-par 68s, and Rosie Jones came in moments later with the same score.

Baugh, putting herself into birdie position all day with an accurate six-iron, sank a 35-footer on her second hole and followed with other birdie putts of four, 15, eight, four and 10 feet. But she missed five other putts from eight feet and a two-footer, and a putt from 15 feet went in and out.