GOLF ROUNDUP : Two Share Women’s Open Lead

Sweden’s Helen Alfredsson and Japan’s Ayako Okamoto each shot four-under-par 68 Thursday to share the first-round lead in the U.S. Women’s Open at Carmel, Ind.

Alfredsson overcame a double-bogey seven on 11th hole, sinking birdie putts on the last two holes of the par-72, 6,311-yard Crooked Stick Golf Club.

Okamoto putted for the lead on the 18th hole but left a 25-foot birdie effort about three feet short.

Canadian Dawn Coe-Jones bogeyed her final hole to fall one stroke behind. Amy Alcott, Nancy Lopez, Amy Read, Michelle McGann and Jane Geddes were another stroke back at 70, along with amateur Debbi Koyama.

Fifteen players were still on the course when play was called because of darkness.

Alfredsson admitted to nervousness as the round began, but a six-foot birdie putt on the 345-yard, par-four opening hole eased the tension.

“It’s a typical Open,” Alfredsson said. Players need “to stay calm and relaxed because you know people are going to make bogeys. You’ve just got to keep going and keep your composure.”

Her composure came quickly enough as she birdied three of the first five holes.

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Bobby Clampett made the most of an invitation to play from the tournament chairman by shooting an opening-round 63 to take a three-shot lead in the $1-million New England Classic in Sutton, Mass.

Clampett, who has failed to make the cut four times in seven tournaments this year, chipped in twice, mastered the par-fives and had nine birdies, eight pars and a bogey in gusty conditions over the par-71, 7,110-yard Pleasant Valley Country Club course.

Steve Lowery was alone in second after a 66. Paul Azinger and Rick Fehr each had 67.

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Bob Zimmerman rolled in 10-foot putts for birdies at the 16th and 17th holes to shoot a two-under-par 69 and lead by one stroke in the opening round of the British Seniors Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes in England.

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Chad Wright of Ventura shot a four-under-par 68 for a one-shot lead after three rounds of the Junior World Championships at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Tiger Woods of Cypress shot a 70 and trails by three strokes.