Ammaccapane Takes Early Heartland Lead

Danielle Ammaccapane shot a 5-under-par 67 Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Penny Hammel in the first round of the LPGA Heartland Classic at St. Louis’ Forest Hills Country Club.

Ammaccapane, who hasn’t won an LPGA event since 1992, finished with six birdies, including a 15-footer on the seventh hole to take the lead.

Among the six players who shot 69 were Liselotte Neumann, a three-time winner this year and the inaugural Heartland champion in 1994. Defending champion Annika Sorenstam shot 72.

Ammaccapane entered the tournament 104th on the money list with a best finish of 18th at Toledo two weeks ago.

Ammaccapane, who won three events in 1992, has finished in the money in only eight of 15 tournaments this year. The round of 67 was her best since two 66s in the PING Championship in March.

Clarkston’s Robin Walton shot a two-over 74 to put her seven shots off the lead.

Hugh Royer III and John Cook each shot 6-under-par 65s to join Bruce Fleisher for the first-round lead of the CVS Charity Classic at Sutton, Mass.

Despite a $1.2 million purse - $216,000 to the winner - the field was thin, with many players resting after last week’s British Open.

Saying he was “intimidated” playing in a foursome that included Hale Irwin, Michael Jordan nonetheless shot a 75 in pro-am play of the Ameritech Senior Open at Long Grove, Ill.

Jordan had five birdies and 10 bogeys. On the 340-yard, par-4 18th, he drove his tee shot some 245 yards over a water hazard on the way to parring the hole.