Furyk Leading at New Orleans

Jim Furyk, his game sizzling in the early morning frost, shot a six-under-par 66 Thursday for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Freeport-McDermott Classic in New Orleans.

Paul Stankowski, who was six under through 17 holes before bogeying the 18th in the gathering dark, finished with a group of four at 67.

Play was suspended with 12 golfers on the course. The announcement came after Stankowski had hit his tee shot and opted to finish the hole.

Stankowski had about a 100-foot putt on No. 18 and left it low and to the left by about 10 feet.

Others at 67 included Frank Nobilo and Lennie Clements.

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Barb Mucha, making an 80-foot shot for an eagle on her first hole, had a bogey-free opening round of five-under-par 68 to share the lead with late-charging Marianne Morris in the Standard Register Ping at Phoenix.