Lewis, Chamblee Get the Start They Need

J.L. Lewis and Brandel Chamblee, each seeking his first victory on the PGA Tour, shot seven-under-par 65s Thursday and were a stroke ahead of three others in the first round of the Buick Open.

Heavy overnight storms delayed the start of the morning round by about 30 minutes. Rain softened the ground so much that players were allowed to lift, clean and replace balls hit in the fairway.

Defending champion Vijay Singh, Dudley Hart and Gary Hallberg shot 66s over the rain-softened Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club course at Grand Blanc, Mich.

Lewis, who spent last season on the Nike Tour, birdied the first two holes and put together a string of three straight birdies on the back.

Chamblee had a bogey-free round that included three putts of 20 feet. But he also took advantage of the soft greens.

“The greens were so soft, I was backing up four-irons today,” said Chamblee, who missed the cut in his first three Buick Opens, then quit coming after 1992.

Brian Watts, who emerged on the world golf scene by finishing second to Mark O’Meara in the British Open, shot 71.

*

Four years after being disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard, Tony Jacklin encountered more trouble in his return to the Senior British Open. This time, he was given a two-shot penalty for hitting the wrong ball.

On a day when England’s Jim Rhodes carded a four-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead, Jacklin came home in 76 after a round of blunders at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland.

Jacklin’s troubles started at the second hole where the former U.S. and British Open champion hooked his drive into the rough, found a ball and hit it only to learn he had played the wrong one.

*

Four golfers from four countries shared the first-round lead in the German Open at Bad Saarow.

Defending champion Ignacio Garrido of Spain, Paul Lawrie of Scotland, Michael Campbell of New Zealand and Olivier Edmond of France all shot five-under 67s.

Germany’s Bernhard Langer, a five-time winner of the event, struggled with stomach cramps and fired a 74, at one point throwing his club in frustration.

*

Leigh Anne Hardin of Martinsville, Ind., needed only 25 holes in two matches to advance to the third round of the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Hardin, 16, the Indiana high school champion, beat Angela Rho of Fullerton, 5 and 4, and Lauren Grzebien of Saunderstown, R.I., 9 and 7.

Hardin next will play Paraguay’s Celeste Troche, and Tai Perry of Kennett Square, Pa., will face Ina Kim of Los Angeles.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

In Front

Leaders after Thursday’s action (Complete scores, C13):

BUICK OPEN--Par 72

J.L. Lewis: 32-33--65 -7

Brandel Chamblee: 34-31--65 -7

Vijay Singh: 34-32--66 -6

Dudley Hart: 33-33--66 -6

Gary Hallberg: 35-31--66 -6