Wie opens with 73 in U.S. Amateur

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Michelle Wie had two birdies and four bogeys on the day. Advertiser library

Three golfers who finished their first round — Erica Blasberg, 19, of Corona, Calif., In-Bee Park, 15, of Eustis, Fla. and Sarah Sasse, 23, of Lincoln, Neb. — were the clubhouse leaders at 1-under 70. Aree Song, 17, of South Korea, was one back.

Katie Allison of Mahwah, N.J., was 2 under through nine holes.

Wie, 13, played the back nine first, and had a birdie on the par-3 11th hole and bogeys on two par-4s (14 and 17). On the front nine, Wie bogeyed the par-3 No. 5, but birdied the par-5 6th. She bogeyed the par-4 8th to finish at 2 over.

"I didn't play so good today, but I hit my drives and shots pretty well," said Wie, who won the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship in June.

Rain and unplayable conditions stopped play three times and caused more than four hours of delays yesterday.

Three other Hawai'i golfers, Lisa Kajihara of Makawao, Shayna Miyajima of Wailuku and Bridget Dwyer of Kailua, were unable to tee off before play was suspended.

Defending champion Becky Lucidi of Poway, Calif., finished the first round at 3-over 74.

The completion of the first round and the second round of stroke play were scheduled for today. The top 64 players advance to the first round of match play tomorrow.