Birdies Put Castrale in the Lead

Nicole Castrale had three birdies in a four-hole span and shot a career-low 64 on Thursday that gave her a two-shot lead in the LPGA Championship in Havre de Grace, Md.

The former USC player picked up three of her birdies from inside 100 yards, including her string on the back nine at Bulle Rock. She chipped to four feet on the par-five 15th, hit a sand wedge to a foot on the next hole, and choked up on an eight-iron for an approach into eight feet on the 18th.

Pat Hurst and Cristie Kerr each shot 66. The group at 67 included South Korean rookie Seon Hwa Lee, coming off her first LPGA Tour victory last week, and Dorothy Delasin.

Karrie Webb and Juli Inkster each opened with a 70. Three-time defending champion Annika Sorenstam had a 71, as did Michelle Wie, who was playing three days after trying to qualify for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot.

Sorenstam has not won in her last seven tournaments, and she was never in contention at the Kraft Nabisco Championship as her annual goal -- the Grand Slam -- evaporated. Now, she has some catching up to do if she wants to become the first woman to win the same major four straight times.

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Adam Scott holed out twice from off the green and made long birdie putts on the final two holes for a six-under 65 and a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Barclays Classic at Westchester Country Club in Harrison, N.Y.

Scott holed out from 105 yards for eagle on the par-four seventh, chipped in from 50 feet on No. 12, made a 23-foot putt on 17 and closed with a 25-footer on the par-five 18th.

David Howell and Billy Andrade were tied for second.

Masters champion Phil Mickelson, preparing for the U.S. Open next week, had a 70.