Robbins’ Route To 66 May Help End Long Road Toward Lpga Major Title

Kelly Robbins has waited a long time to win a major tournament on the LPGA tour.

She might not have to wait much longer.

Robbins, 25, who has two runner-up finishes in the last three weeks, shot a 5-under-par 66 Thursday to take the firstround lead in the LPGA Championship at Wilmington, Del.

Robbins has had six consecutive subpar rounds, including five in a row in the 60s. Her last victory was in the 1994 Jamie Farr Toledo Classic.

“If it wants to happen any time soon, I’m ready,” she said. “It’s early, but I’m sure it’s in the back of my mind. I was really pleased that I played consistently on the first day of a major.

“I’m just kind of waiting to take advantage of anything that comes my way. It’ll come. If it’s on Sunday, I’m not unprepared, put it that way.”

Robbins, who had five birdies, had a one-shot lead over four players, including Patty Sheehan and Dottie Mochrie.

Defending tournament champion Laura Davies, the leading money winner on the tour this year, and Alice Ritzman were another stroke back at 68.

Robbins, who usually relies on her driver and irons, turned to her putter for most of the day. She sank putts of more than 20 feet on Nos. 2, 5 and 16 to keep pace with Sheehan, who played in her group.

Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, shot a 2-under 69.

Glen Day, certain that with a few breaks he could have cracked 60, settled for a bogey-free, 7-under 63 for a onestroke lead after the first round of the $1.3 million Byron Nelson Classic in Irving, Texas.

Mark Calcavecchia, who broke a threeyear non-winning string last week in Atlanta, shared second at 64 with Jay Don Blake.

Tied at 65 are Chris DiMarco, Joe Ozaki of Japan, D.A. Weibring, Kenny Perry, Dough Martin, Ray Stewart and Robin Freeman.