Posted on: Friday, June 20, 2003

LPGA player eyes Turtle Bay tourney

Associated Press

Months after Annika Sorenstam played in a men's tournament, Jan Stephenson could do the same.

Stephenson's agent said yesterday he was working out details of an invitation for the former LPGA star to play in the Turtle Bay Championship on the Champions Tour in Hawai'i Oct. 6-12.

"Discussions are in the final stages with just a few particulars to finalize," C.J. Roberts said. "We're on board ready to go."

Roberts said he expects a formal announcement to be made next month.

Calls to a Champions Tour spokesman last night were not returned.

"Jan has nothing to prove," Roberts said. "She sees this as an opportunity to raise the awareness for both the men's and women's senior tours."

Stephenson, 51, has won 16 LGPA tournaments. Her last tournament victory came in 1987.

• PGA Tour: Briny Baird shot an 8-under 63, one stroke off the course record, and held a three-shot lead over U.S. Open champion Jim Furyk and Joey Sindelar after the first round of the Buick Classic at Harrison, N.Y.

• LPGA Tour: Tina Barrett, whose only tour victory came in her rookie year in 1989, birdied the last three holes for a 5-under 67 that gave her a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Rochester LPGA at Rochester, N.Y.

• European PGA Tour: Alastair Forsyth, Brad Kennedy and Marc Warren shot 2-under 70s and were tied for the lead after a windy first round of the Diageo Championship at Gleneagles, Scotland.