Perfect Start for Geddes at LPGA Championship

A perfect shot was part of a perfect day for Jane Geddes, the leader after the first round of the LPGA Championship at Wilmington, Del.

Geddes made her third career hole in one, a six-iron from 158 yards, and birdied her final two holes for a five-under-par 66 on Thursday and a two-stroke lead over some of the biggest names in women’s golf.

Karrie Webb wasn’t among them.

The 25-year-old Australian, trying to win the second leg of the Grand Slam and her third consecutive major championship, struggled on the thick, wet rough and smooth, fast greens at DuPont Country Club for a one-over 72.

“I came here with a goal to have fun,” said Geddes, who won the LPGA Championship in 1987 but hasn’t won anything since 1994. “I had a ball today.”

Among those chasing Geddes were Pat Bradley and Betsy King, two members of the Hall of Fame, along with Tracy Hanson and Gloria Park.

After a birdie got Geddes back to even par, her six-iron on the 17th took two hops and rolled in for an ace. She closed out her round by hitting a sand wedge from a divot in the 18th fairway to six feet for her fifth birdie of the day.

Patty Sheehan helped carry the cause for the 40-and-over crowd with a two-under 69 and was tied with Wendy Ward, Wendy Doolan and A.J. Eathorne of Canada.

Another stroke back were Annika Sorenstam and Laura Davies, a two-time winner of the LPGA Championship.

*

David Toms, David Peoples and Joe Ogilvie shot six-under 65s in near-perfect morning conditions to share the first-round lead in the St. Jude Classic at Memphis, Tenn.

Peoples had his lowest round this year, but missed a chance to take sole possession of the lead when he three-putted from 15 feet on his final hole.

Toms, who won twice last year, matched Peoples with seven birdies and a bogey. Ogilvie had six birdies.

Chris DiMarco, Notah Begay, Scott Hoch and Bob May opened with 66s on the TPC at Southwind course. Local favorite Loren Roberts, Russ Cochran, Joe Durant, Steve Pate and Carl Paulson shots 67s.

Only Hoch, May, Roberts and Cochran from the afternoon group cracked the leaderboard, with DiMarco saying the conditions were perfect in the morning.