CORNING, N.Y. - Karen Stupples matched the best round of her five years on the LPGA Tour, 8-under 64 to take the first-round lead of the Corning Classic. She tied the best opening round at Corning, set in 1994 by Nancy Ramsbottom. Rosie Jones, a two-time Corning champ, was tied for second with Helen Alfredsson and Michele Redman at 66.
Natalie Gulbis, Lorie Kane, Dottie Pepper, Mi Hyun Kim, Amy Fruwirth and Meg Mallon were tied for fifth at 67. Juli Inkster and Catriona Matthew led a group of eight at 68.
Charlotta Sorenstam, besieged all week by questions about her famous sister, had 71. That was good for 1 under on the 6,062-yard Corning Country Club course.
Defending champion Laura Diaz, ailing with a torn tendon in her left ankle, shot par 72.
A year ago, Stupples missed her tee time on opening day here and was disqualified. She made up for that nicely with eight birdies and no bogies on a nearly perfect day for golf, holing a 30-foot birdie putt at No. 1 to get off to a flying start.
"I felt pretty good coming in here," said Stupples, who tied for seventh two weeks ago at the Asahi Ryokuken International, her best finish this year. "I really feel I should be contending week in and week out. Mentally, I've got to make sure that I get myself there now."
Jones, the only player to win consecutive Cornings (1996-97), zoomed into contention with four straight birdies on the back nine.
"I knew all the holes after 13 were birdie-able," said Jones, who began the string after a three-putt bogey at the 412-yard, par-4 13th hole. "Those holes are an easy stretch if you get it down the middle of the fairway."
VOLVO CHAMPIONSHIP: Darren Clarke shot 6-under 66 for a one-stroke lead in the first round of the European PGA Tour event in Virginia Water, England.
He led by one over Thongchai Jaidee, James Kingston and Alastair Forsyth.
Ernie Els, ranked second in the world and trying to win this title for the first time in eight attempts, began with 69, including a chip-in for eagle at the 12th.
This is his first event in four weeks since he reinjured his right wrist. Colin Montgomerie, the winner from 1998-2000, matched Els' score.
