TAMPA, Florida – PGA Tour rookie Shawn Stefani had six birdies en route to a six-under 65 to seize a two-shot lead after the opening round of the $5.5 million Tampa Bay Championship Thursday. The 31-year-old American is coming off a season-best tie for 39th at the Puerto Rico Open last week. Brian Harman posted a bogey on his final hole and is alone in second at four-under 67 on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club. Harris English shot a three-under 68 and is tied in third with two other fellow Americans, Tag Ridings and Brendan Steele. English had been on course for second spot on the leaderboard before a double bogey on his last hole. Two-time champion K.J. Choi, of South Korea, and Fiji's 2004 winner Vijay Singh both carded two-under 69s. They are in a group of eight alongside Australian Geoff Ogilvy, Peter Tomasulo, Dicky Pride, Lucas Glover, Chez Reavie and Roberto Castro. Defending champ Luke Donald, whose victory last year propelled him to top spot in the world rankings, stumbled home with three bogeys on the last four holes to finish at one-under 70. England's Donald and Choi were joined in their group by 2010 winner Jim Furyk who shot a one-over 72. Donald beat Furyk, South Korea's Bae Sang-moon and Robert Garrigus in a four-man playoff last year. South Africa's Retief Goosen shot a disappointing five-over 76. Ai Miyazato leads LPGA event Ai Miyazato took the LPGA Founders Cup lead on a hot afternoon in the desert, playing a late four-hole stretch in 5 under for a tournament-record 9-under 63. Returning from a whiplash injury sustained in a five-vehicle crash after a tournament in Thailand last month, the Japanese star birdied the par-3 14th, holed a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th and added birdies on the par-4 16th and par-3 17th to open a two-stroke lead. She was hurt three weeks ago on the way to the Bangkok airport and withdrew the following week in Singapore as a precaution because of stiffness in her neck, shoulder and back. South Korea's Jee Young-lee was in second at 7-under 65. Candie Kung, Brittany Lang, Gerina Piller and Pornanong Phatlum shot 66. Chapchai, Liang lead Avantha In India, Chapchai Nirat and Liang Wenchong each shot a 6-under 66 Friday to tie for the lead after the second round of the Avantha Masters, two strokes ahead of four others. Chapchai and Liang were even at 132 total at the Jaypee Greens. Chawalit Plaphol (68), David Drysdale (67), Joonas Granberg (67) and Tommy Fleetwood (65) were two strokes behind in third. Colin Montgomerie (76) failed to make the 3-under cut, finishing with a two-round score of 8-over 152. Defending champion Jbe Kruger (72) and local challenger Shiv Kapur (72) also missed the cut. — Agencies
