Golf

Atsedes' steady play nets lead in Futures

By C.J. RISAK
Published March 19, 2005

EAST LAKE - Lori Atsedes put together a consistent round to lead after the first round of the Tampa Bay Futures Golf Classic on Friday at East Lake Woodlands.

Atsedes, 40, of Ithaca, N.Y., who finished tied for sixth in last week's season opener of the developmental tour, had four birdies and no bogeys in shooting 68 on the 6,342-yard South course. She hit 12 greens in regulation and made all four birdie putts from 10 feet or closer.

Two strokes back were Courtney Trimble, Meaghan Francella and Jessica Lewis.

Clearwater's Jenny Gleason, on her home course, overcame a triple bogey on her first hole to shoot 73. After an 8, she made an eagle at the par-4 third.

But none of the leaders could match what happened to Meredith Duncan. The Shreveport, La., native, who was on the LPGA Tour last year, sent her drive on the par-4 347-yard sixth into a tree. When she went to play it, the ball was nowhere to be found.

Becky Iverson, playing in Duncan's group, thought a boy watching nearby took the ball. When asked, he showed Duncan a ball he had picked up. It wasn't hers.

"Then he told me, "I have some others,"' Duncan said.

The boy then "took out about five or six others."

One was Duncan's. She asked him where he picked it up, took a drop and pitched her next shot to within 4 feet of the hole. She followed with a birdie putt, one of two in her round of 72.

As for the boy, Duncan said, "He asked for his ball back."

The tournament continues today with the morning session starting at 7:30 a.m. and afternoon play beginning at noon. The 54-hole event concludes Sunday.

[Last modified March 19, 2005, 01:02:12]