How Swede It Is: Nilsmark Leads Lpga By One
Catrin Nilsmark and Alison Nicholas went their separate ways when the first round of the McDonald’s LPGA Championship was washed out.
Nilsmark, whose 4-under-par 67 leads after Friday’s rain-delayed start on a soggy and shortened DuPont Country Club in Wilmington, Del., spent Thursday hitting balls on the practice range.
Nicholas, a stroke back with a 68, went shopping.
They both played Friday like they found what they were looking for.
“I went out and solved some problems on the range yesterday,” said Nilsmark, who had been fighting a hook. “So I was happy with the cancellation.”
Nilsmark, who started her day with a birdie, hit every green but one in regulation and never made a bogey. Hitting pinpoint iron shots, she rolled in four birdie putts of 13-15 feet and missed four others of 15 feet or less.
“It was a steady, not-too-exciting round of golf,” Nilsmark, of Sweden, said. “It’s just one round of three,” she said of the event shortened to 54 holes.
Nicholas, who at 5-foot tall stands in sharp contrast to Nilsmark’s 5-11, was one of those who likely benefited from tees that were moved up as much as 70 yards. She made six birdies, four on putts in the 12-15-foot range.
Tracy Hanson of Rathdrum, Idaho, shot 71 and Clarkston’s Robin Walton carded a 75.
Mickelson fires 65
Phil Mickelson shot 65 on a course he had never played to take the 36-hole lead in the Byron Nelson Classic in Irving, Texas.
The 5-under round at Cottonwood Valley, one of two courses used in the tournament, put him at 8-under 132 as he set his sights on a third PGA Tour victory this year. He was one shot ahead of Nick Price, Corey Pavin and Mike Brisky. Kirk Triplett, formerly of Pullman, shot 68 and is at 139.
Charles leads by 3
Bob Charles, using a new putter, shot a 7-under 65 and took a three-stroke lead in the opening round of the Senior PGA Nationwide Championship at The Golf Club of Georgia in Alpharetta.
Bruce Crampton, Don Bies, John Jacobs and defending champ Bob Murphy were tied at 68.