Putter Helps Jones Go Low at the LPGA

L.A. Times Archives

June 25, 1999 12 AM PT

From Associated Press

Laura Davies played so well she could have shot a 59. Rosie Jones putted so well she wound up with the lead after the first round of the LPGA Championship at Wilmington, Del.

“I’ve got a pretty good flat stick,” Jones said Thursday after a seven-under-par 64, good for her best start in a major championship and a one-stroke lead over Davies.

On a warm, breezy day in which 48 players broke par, Jones proved once again that the shortest club in the bag can be more valuable than a 292-yard drive.

Jones took only 23 putts in the first round--13 over her last 11 holes. Her 64 is the lowest round every recorded at DuPont Country Club during the LPGA Championship. Brandie Burton had a 63 in 1992 when the McDonald’s Championship was only a regular stop on the LPGA Tour.

Juli Inkster, still walking on air from her victory in the U.S. Open three weeks ago, made four birdies over the last six holes for a 68, and defending champion Se Ri Pak also had a 68.

Jones and Davies, who both started on No. 10, each broke the course record on the back nine with six-under 30s.

An eagle that was almost a double eagle helped Larry Nelson tie Australian Graham Marsh for the first-round lead in the Senior Players Championship.

Both opened at six-under 66 over the TPC of Michigan at Dearborn, one stroke better than Hale Irwin.

Nelson, 51, seeking his second victory this season on the senior circuit, was 238 yards out when he hit a five-wood from the fairway of No. 13, a 506-yard, par five. The ball landed on the front of the green, then curled around the upper shelf, making a U-turn toward the cup before stopping a foot short.

“From where I was, I should have made four there,” Nelson said. “Clearly, the three was a little extra bonus.”

Six players were at 68, including George Archer and Vincente Fernandez. Jim Albus, who won this tournament in 1991, was among five at 69.

Jack Nicklaus, who designed the 6,966-yard course, shot 71, matching Lee Trevino and Jim Colbert. Defending champion Gil Morgan, who beat Irwin by three strokes last year, shot 74.

Finally free to enter and leave the United States as he pleases, Stephen Ames, a native of Trinidad living in Canada, says he is ready to start making some real money again on the PGA Tour.

The six-under 65 he shot during the first round of the Buick Classic was a good start. He led Frank Nobilo by one stroke.

This was only Ames’ third PGA appearance since he lost his visa to enter the United States last year and missed six months of competitive golf. Ames said he is only starting to shake off some of the rust that accumulated during the winter.

David Duval, playing the back nine first, double-bogeyed No. 15 and bogeyed No. 17 to go three over, but had four birdies and six pars the rest of the way and finished with a 70.

Jeff Freeman of Palm Desert birdied the last four holes to shoot a two-under 70 and tie for the lead with seven others in the first round of the 32nd PGA Club Professional Championship at Haven, Wis.

It was the largest number of golfers tied for the lead after any round of the tournament.

Only 14 of the 145 players broke par on Whistling Straits, the 7,208-yard links-style course designed by Pete Dye that lies along Lake Michigan 60 miles north of Milwaukee.

The average score was more than three strokes over par.

The winner receives $40,000 out of the $300,000 purse, and the top 25 finishers earn spots in the PGA Championship Aug. 12-15.

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In Front

Leaders through Thursday’s play (Complete scores, Page 13):

LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP--Par 71

Rosie Jones: 34-30--64 -7

Laura Davies: 35-30--65 -6

Liselotte Neumann: 33-34--67 -4

Jenny Lidback: 34-33--67 -4

Trish Johnson: 32-35--67 -4

Allison Finney: 34-33--67 -4