Barlow’s 28 Sets Course Record

Craig Barlow’s search for a solid swing ended quickly Thursday with a nine-hole tournament-record 28 that gave him a one-stroke lead after the first round of the MCI Heritage at Hilton Head, S.C.

Fed up and desperate after he shot a two-over-par 37 on his first nine at Harbour Town Golf Links, Barlow made a drastic, mid-round change -- moving the ball two inches forward in his stance. The result was a stretch like none other on Pete Dye’s famous layout and left Barlow with a six-under 65.

He had two eagles and four birdies coming in to break the course mark of 29 set by Brad Faxon in 1997 and tied four times since. Barlow also was a shot off the PGA Tour record of 27 for nine holes -- shared by Mike Souchak (1955), Andy North (1975) and Billy Mayfair (2001).

Barlow was a shot ahead of Davis Love III, who has won this tournament four times, and John Senden, an Australian in his second season on the PGA Tour.

Another shot behind was a group of 10 led by Hal Sutton and 2000 Heritage winner Stewart Cink. Masters runner-up Len Mattiace and Nick Price, the champion here six years ago, were tied with 11 others at 68.

*

Laura Diaz kept talking to her ball, and this time it kept doing what she wanted it to do. At the end of the day, it was good enough for a six-under-par 66 and a share of the lead in the Takefuji Classic at Las Vegas.

Spurred on by an eagle on the ninth hole and a closing birdie, Diaz matched her lowest round of the year to tie with Catriona Matthew after the first round.

Four others were a shot back at five under, while defending champion Annika Sorenstam had an even-par 72 and was six shots behind.

Diaz three-putted the 17th hole for her only bogey before coming back to hit a wedge to 18 inches on the closing hole for a final birdie.

All the way around the course, she gave her ball instructions after hitting it, a habit she picked up while playing golf with her father.

Matthew eagled her first hole and birdied her last two at the Las Vegas Country Club to tie Diaz.

*

Fredrik Jacobson shot a course-record eight-under-par 64 and held a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Algarve Open at Faro, Portugal.

Lee Westwood, on the other hand, shot a nine-over-par 81 and was tied for 145th place in the 154-player field, 17 strokes behind.

He had a quadruple-bogey eight on the first hole and finished with two double-bogeys, two bogeys and one birdie.