NORTH PLAINS, Ore. » Sydnee Michaels and Mika Miyazato shot 7-under 65 on Friday in 100-degree heat to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Safeway Classic.
Former Hawaii resident Michelle Wie, a Punahou graduate is four shots behind after opening with a 69.
Miyazato and Michaels each had eight birdies and a bogey on Pumpkin Ridge’s Ghost Creek Course.
Michaels, the former UCLA player who won twice last year on the developmental Symetra Tour, had her best round of her rookie season. She’s coming off a career-best 21st-place tie last week in the Toledo Classic.
"It’s been hit or miss," Michaels said. "I’ll be in contention and I might have a little shaky Sunday, and wind up top 30 or something like that or I’ll miss the cut by one or two. I definitely feel that every week I learn something, and I’m hoping I’ll start to hit my stride here toward the end of the season. Last year, I hit my stride at the end of the season, so I’m kind of hoping I follow that pattern."
Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park and Pornanong Phatlum were a stroke back. So Yeon Ryu, the Toledo Classic winner last week, was two shots behind at 67 along with Brittany Lincicome, Alison Walshe and Jee Young Lee.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng had a 70, defending champion Suzann Pettersen shot 71, and second-ranked Stacy Lewis had a 73.
Former Hawaii golfers Stephanie Kono (Punahou) and Ayaka Kaneko (Sacred Hearts) are tied for 121st after shooting 6-over 78s.
Walker on top in N.C.
Jimmy Walker shot an 8-under 62 to top the leaderboard at 12 under in the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, N.C.
Defending champion Webb Simpson was a stroke back after a 63, and first-round leader Carl Pettersson, Tim Clark, Sergio Garcia and rookie Harris English were 10 under. Pettersson had a 68, Clark shot 67, Garcia 63 and English 64.
Tim Herron matched the tournament record with a 61, but was still nine strokes back.
Castle graduate Dean Wilson shot a 2-over 72 and missed the cut at 3-over 143.
Langer leads in New York
Bernhard Langer topped the leaderboard at 7 under when first-round play in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open was suspended because of rain in Endicott, N.Y.
