PINEHURST, North Carolina — Stacy Lewis played bogey-free on a shorter, but equally tough Pinehurst No. 2 to take a one-shot lead over Michelle Wie Thursday in the first round of the US Women's Open when the opening round was halted because of storms in the area. Wie made four birdies on the back nine, and a 10-foot par save on the par-3 17th hole, for a 68. Comparisons were inevitable for such an occasion — the first time the US Open and the US Women's Open were held on the same course in back-to-back weeks. Pinehurst No. 2 was 1,064 yards shorter than it was for the first round last week. That didn't make it any easier. Lewis, the No. 1 player in women's golf, and Wie were among five players who broke par when play was suspended with 30 players still on the course. Kaymer led 15 players under par in the first round last week. The scoring average for the women was 75.73, about 2-1/2 shots higher than the opening round for the men. Former Women's Open champion So Yeon ryu, Katherine Kirk and 18-year-old amateur Minjee Lee were at 69. The show belonged to Lucy Li, the 11-year-old from the Bay Area who became the youngest qualifier in US Women's Open history. She missed only one fairway and was rarely out of position, though it cost the sixth-grader dearly when she was. Li made one triple bogey and two double bogeys, three blemishes on her card that led to a 78. At least 17 players failed to break 80, including Laura Davies. Perhaps more shocking was Lydia Ko, Cristie Kerr and defending champion Inbee Park, each of them at 76. Karrie Webb and Paula Creamer were at 70. Juli Inkster, at 53 and playing in the Women's Open for the 35th time, had a 71. Rock, McDowell share lead In Ireland, Graeme McDowell birdied four of his closing eight holes to join two-time runner-up Robert Rock in the lead early on day two of the Irish Open Friday. Both players shot 5-under-par 66 to move to 8 under for the tournament in superb scoring conditions at the Fota Island course. McDowell birdied three holes in succession from his 11th, and birdied his 15th. Italy's Marco Crespi (67) and England's Matthew Nixon (65) shared third place in the clubhouse on 7 under. Overnight leader Mikko Ilonen of Finland, who set a course record with his opening 64, teed off in the afternoon. Steele bolts into lead American Brendan Steele eagled his opening hole and raised hopes of firing a magical 59 before finishing with an eight-under-par 62 in Thursday's opening round at the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut. Steele, who moved to eight under after just 13 holes before closing with five successive pars, ended the day with a one-stroke lead over compatriots Ryan Moore and Bud Cauley at the TPC River Highlands. Americans Chad Campbell, Joe Durant, Jeff Maggert, Scott Langley and Eric Axley carded 64s while 2010 winner and reigning Masters champion Bubba Watson opened with a 67. — Agencies
