Morgan Takes Charge

Playing on his home course, Gil Morgan shot a five-under-par 66 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over playing partner Peter Jacobsen after the first round of the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Tree Golf Club in Edmond, Okla.

The 59-year-old Morgan, whose home is within walking distance of the clubhouse, had six birdies on the 7,107-yard layout. It was the first full round he had played on his home course since October and his best competitive round there ever.

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Chris Smith used some strong putting in shooting a six-under 64 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the FedEx St. Jude Classic at Memphis, Tenn.

Smith needed only 24 putts in a six-birdie, bogey-free round that easily was his best this year. D.A. Points shot a 66.

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Nancy Scranton shot a seven-under 65 and was tied with Meena Lee for the first-round lead at the LPGA Corning Classic at Corning, N.Y. Brandie Burton, Kris Tamulis, Jeong Jang, Hee-Won Han and Virada Nirapathpongporn were one shot behind.

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Paul Casey used a birdie-eagle finish for a five-under 67 and a share of the lead after the first round of the BMW Championship at Virginia Water, England. He is tied with Luke Donald, Nick Dougherty and Andrew McLardy.

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Defending champion Duke pulled away from the pack, and Pepperdine’s Eileen Vargas maintained her lead through the third round of the women’s NCAA Division I championships at Upper Arlington, Ohio.

The Blue Devils shot a one-under 287 to take a 13-stroke lead over USC. They are at 12-under 876. The Trojans are at 889. Pepperdine is third at 894.

Vargas shot a three-over 75 and is at two-under 214. Tied for second are Florida’s Sandra Gal (71), Duke’s Jennie Lee (72), USC’s Dewi Schreefel (70) and Stanford’s Jennifer Tangtiphaiboontana (72) at one-over 217.