Langham Birdies His Way to Early Lead

Franklin Langham shot a seven-under-par 65 to take the lead Thursday after the first round of the inaugural Reno-Tahoe Open.

Despite haze from a forest fire, Langham birdied six holes for a 30 on the front nine of the Montreux Golf & Country Club that winds through towering pines and mountain streams along the Sierra Nevada.

With strong putts, including a downhill 50-footer for birdie, Langham had a one-shot lead over two other young players, Ted Purdy and Cameron Beckman.

“I got it rolling early in the round and got some momentum,” said Langham, 31, a third-year PGA player who ranks 87th on the money list with $336,673 this year.

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Storms washed out much of the first round in the NEC Invitational at Akron, Ohio.

After a three-hour delay, lightning, rain and the threat of more storms forced officials to suspend the first round. No one completed the round.

Play will resume this morning. The second round is expected to begin later in the day.

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Larry Nelson shot a course-record nine-under 63 and took a four-stroke lead in the first round of the $1.35-million Canadian Senior Open at Ste-Julie, Canada.

Nelson’s round included holding out for eagle on the par-five 12th hole.

Hale Irwin shot a 67 for a share of second place with Kermit Zarley and Jim Ahern.

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Pat Hurst, only 10 weeks after giving birth to her first child, shot an eight-under-par 64 to grab a two-stroke lead over Karrie Webb in the first round of the LPGA Oldsmobile Classic at East Lansing, Mich. Marilyn Lovander, Rosie Jones, Dottie Pepper and Sweden’s Eva Dahllof were one shot behind Webb at 67.