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Posted at 12:51 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2004

Wie shoots 71, five back of leader

Associated Press

SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. — A teenager is leading the U.S. Women's Open.

No, not that one.

Brittany Lincicome, an 18-year-old from Florida who just finished her last year of home school, shot a round today that left her crying for joy and in a mild state of shock — a 5-under 66 that gave her a one-shot lead and matched the best score ever by an amateur.

"I birdied 10 and it went from there," she said. "I don't even know what happened."

She made short birdie putts on two of the next three holes, then hit the shot of her young life — a chip 7-iron under the trees, the ball rolling onto the 15th green and slipping in the right side of the cup for an eagle. She shot 30 on the back nine, tying a Women's Open record.

And just like that, she stole the thunder from 14-year-old Michelle Wie and 17-year-old Paula Creamer, the most heralded girls among a record 16 teenagers at Orchards Golf Club.

Everyone missed most of Lincicome's sterling back nine. They were all following Wie, who recovered from a double bogey on the par-3 fifth by hitting a 5-wood from 220 yards into 9 feet for eagle on her final hole for a 71.

"It could have been a lot worse today, and that eagle really got me on the right foot for tomorrow," she said.

Creamer, a senior-to-be who was second and 12th the last two weeks on the LPGA Tour, was 3 over through 10 holes but recovered for a 72.

Hilo's Amanda Wilson, who received a qualifying berth, had not teed off before storms delayed play today. Play resumed this afternoon.

Patricia Meunier-LeBouc, the '03 Kraft Nabisco champion with a 4-month-old daughter, birdied the final four holes for a 67, twice holing 25-foot putts.

Only five other players from the early starters broke par in a calm first round that turned nasty.

Annika Sorenstam birdied her first hole when the first sign of storms approached. Four pars later, the Orchards was swamped with heavy rain and thunder, suspending the first round for three hours.

Grace Park, who has finished first and third in the other two majors this year, and two-time Women's Open champion Juli Inkster were among those at even-par 71.

Defending champion Hilary Lunke showed plenty of heart. She was 4 over after four holes, about what everyone imagined from a short hitter on a course playing every bit of its 6,473 yards. But Lunke buckled down with birdies, and a bogey on the 18th hole left her with a respectable 72.

Still, the day belonged Lincicome.

"I figured that one of these days, if I proved myself, then people would notice who I was," she said. "I wasn't really worried. Michelle Wie and everyone gets way more press. But I figured if you play good here, then it will come to me."

Wie was fortunate to finish at par. She birdied her second hole and was cruising right along until trying to get too cute with a 7-iron on the par-3 fifth. It went way left into the trees, and Wie had no choice but to declare it unplayable and return to the tee for her third shot. She had to make a 6-footer for double bogey. She went to 2 over with a bogey on No. 8 by driving left into the trees. But all was forgiven at the end.

"I'm trying to be 1 under every day," she said. "I'm one off. I just have to shoot 2 under tomorrow."