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Juli Inkster (65) has been playing at the Shoprite Classic every year since it began and was the tournament’s first winner in 1986. Both she and Annika are two-time winners of the event. The two ladies entered the clubhouse admirably after a rain-soaked round with Sorenstam just two strokes behind Hall-of-Fame member Inkster.<\/p>\n
Even though Inkster used five gloves and several towels by the end of her round, her score proved her to be a veteran. A dripping Inkster had this to say to the media, “Believe me, I didn’t want to be out there. But I figure if I have to be out there, I might as well make it good.”<\/p>\n
She sure made the Bay Course look easy. Although Juli Inkster hasn’t won a tournament in two years, she showed her competitors that she could still score. With six birdies, two chip-ins and an eagle at the 16th, Juli only stumbled twice with two bogeys to finish her round ahead of Sorenstam.
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\nNot yet over her cold from last week’s Corning Classic, Annika started with sand trap trouble at the second hole and a two-putt for bogey. She regained that stroke with a birdie on the next hole but bogeyed again at the sixth.<\/p>\n
Even the sniffles can’t keep the world’s top female golfer down. Sorenstam rebounded with a bogey-free back nine to stay within close range of the leader. A 35-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole turned the tide for Annika. “Sometimes you just need a little putt like that (on No. 10) to kind of get you going, especially on a day like today,” Sorenstam said. Three birdies on the back nine and a five foot putt for eagle at the par-5 16th made up for her early slow start. <\/p>\n
Mi Hyun Kim birdied early at the first then bogeyed 2, 4 and 7 but dropped in another birdie in at the 5th. Although Kim began her back-nine with bogeys on the 10th and 11th, she regained her composure and birdied back-to-back on 12 and 13. Kim then birdied her way in on the final four holes to put her in solo possession of third place.<\/p>\n
Jeong Jang birdied at the third but stumbled at the fourth with a devastating double-bogey. On holes 5-13, Jeong held steady with pars then birdied at the 14th and again at 18th finishing with a sigh of relief. <\/p>\n
Last week’s winner at the Corning Classic, Jimin Jang (71), leads a contingency of thirteen golfers at even par. Erica Blasberg (72) stands with a long stretch of golfers tied for 19th position and Jennifer Rosales shot a 73 today. <\/p>\n
Paula Creamer (74) is tied for 50th place with some of this year’s top performers including Cristie Kerr, and Christina Kim in another logjam deep within the leaderboard.<\/p>\n
Way back in 70th position lie Australian Karrie Webb (75), Wendy Ward and Stacy Prammanasudh who have all won this year on tour.<\/p>\n
Pos Player Today R1\n1 Juli Inkster -6 65\n2 Annika Sorenstam -4 67\n3 Mi Hyun Kim -2 69\n4 Jeong Jang -1 70\nT5 Jimin Jang E 71\nT5 Marilyn Lovander E 71\nT5 Kris Tschetter E 71\nT5 Nancy Harvey E 71\nT5 Beth Bader E 71\nT5 Laura Davies E 71\nT5 Se Ri Pak E 71\nT5 Heather Bowie E 71\nT5 Silvia Cavalleri E 71\nT5 Pat Hurst E 71\nT5 Natalie Gulbis E 71\nT5 Shi Hyun Ahn E 71\nT5 Carin Koch E 71<\/pre>\nCatch the LPGA on ESPN2 this weekend: Jun 4th 2:00-4:00 p.m. and Jun 5th 3:00-5:00 p.m.(ET). Check your local listings as ESPN2 rescheduled first round action.<\/p>\n