Sorenstam Shoots a 62 in Return to LPGA Tour

Annika Sorenstam shot a 10-under-par 62 to take a share of the lead with Rosie Jones in the first round of the Kellogg-Keebler Classic at Aurora, Ill.

The 62 set a course record, and also matched the lowest score in relation to par this year on the LPGA tour.

Angela Stanford and Lorie Kane were tied for third with 65s.

“I know it’s a new week and I’ve had several days to kind of come back to Earth,” said Sorenstam, who last week missed the cut at the Colonial, the PGA Tour’s stop in Fort Worth. “I’ve been flying around a little bit. But now I feel like I’m back where I want to be.”

Sorenstam played bogey-free with six birdies on the front nine, shooting a 30. When she opened the back nine with consecutive birdies, she acknowledged that she thought about shooting a 59, a feat only she has accomplished on the LPGA tour.

After a par on the par-four 15th and a bogey on the par-four 16th, Sorenstam still closed strong, tapping in for an eagle on No. 18 after hitting a six-iron within a foot of the hole.

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Jim Ahern birdied the 18th hole to cap an eight-under 64 and take the lead in the first round of the Champions’ Tour Music City Championship at Nashville.

Doug Tewell had a 65 on the Springhouse Golf Club course.

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Top-ranked Clemson held on to beat host Oklahoma State by two strokes at Stillwater, Okla., for its first NCAA title.

Clemson shot a 15-over 303 and wound up 39 over for the four rounds. Oklahoma State shot 304 and wound up 41 over. UCLA was third at 45 over.

The individual winner was Arizona State freshman Alejandro Canizares, whose three-under 69 left him at one-under 287, two shots ahead of Auburn’s Lee Williams.

Motor Racing

Jason Leffler got his first NASCAR truck series victory in the MBNA 200 after teammate Ted Musgrave blew his engine at Dover (Del.) International Speedway. Leffler’s Dodge beat that of Bobby Hamilton by 3.010 seconds.

Ryan Newman won his fourth NASCAR pole in qualifying for Sunday’s MBNA 400 at Dover International Speedway. Newman turned a fast lap of 158.716 mph in his Penske Dodge. ... Alex Tagliani won the pole for the CART Centennial 250 when rain washed out qualifying in West Allis, Wis., and the field was determined on practice speeds. ... Joe Nemechek ran a fast lap of 156.747 mph in a Chevrolet to win the pole for today’s Busch series race at Dover. ... Helio Castroneves and Tony Kanaan walked away without injury after a hard crash that turned Castroneves upside down during an Indy Racing League test session at Richmond (Va.) International Raceway.

Miscellany

Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe was being treated in an undisclosed hospital’s cardiac unit in Detroit, a Red Wing spokesman said.

Howe, 75, went to the hospital after complaining of discomfort, spokesman John Hahn said.

Cal State Fullerton next week plans to interview former UCLA assistant Jim Saia, Fairleigh Dickinson Coach Tom Green, Florida Atlantic Coach Sidney Green and Fresno State assistant Bob Burton for its vacant men’s basketball job.

The NCAA has begun testing college athletes for the performance-enhancing hormone EPO and similar substances that increase the flow of oxygen to muscles for endurance.

Colita, an allowance winner at Belmont Park on May 21, won’t run in the Belmont Stakes a week from today.

With Colita out, there are seven definites -- Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide, Empire Maker, Dynever, Scrimshaw, Ten Most Wanted, Supervisor and Best Minister -- for the Belmont. Decisions on Midway Road, Outta Here and Wild And Wicked will be made in the next few days.

Passings

Former Pepperdine forward Anthony Frederick, 38, died of an apparent heart attack, the school said. See B section.