Maggert Starts Fast; Duval Pain-Free

Jeff Maggert and David Duval had an ideal start to the Buick Challenge on Thursday. One had his best round of the year, the other had no pain.

Maggert made an eagle on his 11th hole with a three-iron from 212 yards that hit the pin, and he kept the ball out of the shaggy, unpredictable rough at Callaway Gardens for a nine-under 63 that gave him a three-stroke lead at Pine Mountain, Ga.

Duval had a 68, a surprisingly good score considering it was his first full round since the British Open. He has missed the last two months with a back injury.

Maggert’s three-stroke lead matches the largest after 18 holes on the PGA Tour this year. Paul Azinger had a 66, along with Joey Sindelar and Charles Raulerson.

Stewart Cink and Scott Hoch were among those at 67. Davis Love III, who has not won in 2 1/2 years, bogeyed the last hole for a 70.

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Chasing her first LPGA victory in 15 years, Susie Redman shot a five-under-par 67 to take the first-round lead at the New Albany Golf Classic in Ohio.

Mi Hyun Kim, Wendy Ward, Mardi Lunn and Dina Ammacapane opened with 68s, and defending champion Annika Sorenstam three-putted for bogey on the 16th hole and finished with a 69. Karrie Webb, seeking her seventh win of the year, struggled to a 76.

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Bill Shean Jr. moved within one match of his second U.S. Senior Amateur title, defeating Gary Menzel, 3 and 2, in the semifinals at Charlotte, N.C. In today’s final, Shean, 57, of Hinsdale, Ill., will face Dick Van Leuvan, 55, of Atlanta. Van Leuvan defeated E. Thomas Jung of Chicago in 24 holes.