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Golf briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 16, 2001

Tschetter posts record 63 to lead LPGA event by two

PHOENIX -- Kris Tschetter wasted little time giving herself some breathing room in the LPGA's Standard Register Ping tournament.

Taking advantage of an early start and greens softened by dew, Tschetter shot a record 9-under-par 63 Thursday for a two-shot lead over Se Ri Pak and Annika Sorenstam.

The 6,459-yard Moon Valley Country Club course was taken out of play after the 1999 tournament and shortened from par 73 to 72 during a $5-million face lift. But Tschetter's score was equal to any on the books -- Juli Inkster had 9-under 64 in 1998, and Charlotta Sorenstam carded 8-under 64 at the Legacy Golf Resort on her way to last year's title.

"I really love the changes," Tschetter said. "When they started changing the course, I didn't want them to because I always liked this course, and I thought the greens really fit (it), and I think they did a great job of keeping the greens, you know, fitting the course."

Tschetter, a 14-year pro who tied her career-best round, easily could have had a bigger lead. But Sorenstam, the winner sunday in Tucson, and Pak made late surges.

Sorenstam had a birdie-birdie finish, and Pak eagled the next-to-last hole for her 65.

The LPGA tournament's three most recent champions had disappointing starts. Charlotta Sorenstam shot 74; Karrie Webb, the world No. 1 and 1999 winner, had 73, and '98 champ Liselotte Neumann was disqualified for signing an incorrect card.

Neumann two-putted for par off a practice green on the ninth hole. She overlooked the red line that distinguishes the two greens, failed to take relief -- a two-shot penalty -- and signed for 74 instead of 76.

Tschetter, a former JCPenney winner, had surgery to stimulate cartilage growth in her hip in June and another surgery in October. She skipped the first three events this year, tied for 44th in Alamo, Calif., pulled out of the Hawaiian Open after hurting her back and tied for 16th in Tucson. She said the hip felt fine.

MADEIRA ISLAND OPEN: Ireland's Des Smyth and England's Malcolm Mackenzie shot 6-under-par 66 to lead European PGA play. On a calm day on the hilltop Santo da Serra course, 21 players finished within two shots of the leaders. American Hank Kuehne, looking to restart an injury-interrupted career, shot 67 to share third in a seven-man group.

TAIWAN OPEN: Spain's Raquel Carriedo shot 3-under-par 69 to take a two-shot lead over three other European golfers in the first round of the Taipei tournament.

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