Golf

Leonard calmly cards 62

By wire services
Published May 27, 2005

MEMPHIS - Justin Leonard took advantage of his early tee time, shooting 8-under 62 in unusually calm conditions at TPC at Southwind to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the St. Jude Classic.

In the fourth group of the morning, Leonard shot his best round since 61 in the final round at Colonial in 2003, where he finished second. He birdied his first three holes, six of the opening nine, and finished with eight in his bogey-free round.

After Leonard entered the clubhouse early Thursday with a five-stroke lead, Kirk Triplett and Davis Love did their best to catch up during the afternoon. But Triplett (64) parred his final two holes, and Love (65) finished with seven consecutive pars. Jason Bohn birdied his final hole and tied Love with 65.

David Toms, trying to become the first since Tiger Woods to win the same PGA Tour event three straight times, shot 68.

LPGA: Defending champion Annika Sorenstam opened with 3-under 69, but Sherri Turner and Sophie Gustafson held the first-round lead at 6 under at the Corning (N.Y.) Classic. Turner made eagle on the par-5 second hole and carded three more birdies before the turn. She finished with her first round in the 60s this year to tie Gustafson, who closed with five birdies over her final seven holes on the way to her best round of the season. Tessa Teachman, a 15-year-old from Rochester, N.Y., the youngest to ever qualify at Corning, shot 1-over 73.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Graham Marsh shot 4-under 68 to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Senior PGA Championship in Ligonier, Pa. Hale Irwin, R.W. Eaks, Dave Barr and Tom McKnight were tied for second. Raymond Floyd, who hasn't won in five years, was two back with Curtis Strange and Texas club pro Perry Arthur.

EUROPEAN PGA: Ireland's Peter Lawrie, Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland and Portugal's Jose-Filipe Lima shot 5-under 67 to share the lead at the BMW Championship in Virginia Water, England. Ben Curtis, 2003 British Open champion, was among nine players a shot back.

FUTURES: Briana Vega of North Andover, Mass., shot 5-under 67 at the Northwest Indiana Classic in Merrillville to lead by one. Kelly Lagedrost of Brooksville shot 72.

NORTH FLORIDA PGA: Jim Garrison won the 19th annual Golfers Guide Match Play Championship at Tampa Palms Country Club. Garrison, head pro at Temple Terrace Country Club, won six matches in three days, capped by a 4-and-3 victory over Tyler Thurston, an assistant pro at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando.

[Last modified May 27, 2005, 00:40:18]