At the top of the leaderboard. The 2006 Rolex Player of the Year Lorena Ochoa and LPGA Tour veteran Laura Davies are tied at the top of the leaderboard after firing opening rounds of 66 (-6) at the Ginn OPEN. Thursday's score marks the first time in 2007 that Ochoa has been in the lead after day one, and her 6-under performance stands as her season-best first-round score. Davies, who carded her second eagle of the season with a 2-iron from 25 feet out on the third hole, also fired a season-best round and notched her best single-round score since last shooting a 65 during the third round of the 2006 Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic Presented by Kroger in July. Brittany Lincicome stands just one stroke behind Ochoa and Davies in third place. Lincicome's season-low 67 ties her personal-best opening round score, which she last tallied in the 2006 Wendy's Championship for Children. Rookie Na Ri Kim, Sherri Turner and defending Ginn OPEN champion Mi Hyun Kim round out the top positions with a three-way tie for fourth place at 4-under-par 68.

Strength of field. With 47 of the top 50 players on the LPGA Official Money List, the Ginn OPEN's 143-player field is among the strongest the Tour has seen this season. A $2.6 million purse, one of the largest on Tour this year, is at stake this week with the winner receiving a $390,000 paycheck. A late night rainstorm softened greens for play on Thursday morning, allowing 35 players to shoot under par, while 20 carded rounds of even par. Young and old alike reaped the benefits of the freshly-watered course. The Tour's youth movement was in full effect with 21-year old Brittany Lincicome in third place at 5-under 32-35=67, and 24-year old Natalie Gulbis tied for seventh at 3-under despite a double bogey on 18. Sherri Turner, a 24-year veteran of the Tour, recorded six birdies on her way to a 33-35=68 (-4), her best showing since carding a second-round 66 at the 2006 Honda LPGA Thailand.

Sponsor exemption Hurst hangs on. Sixteen-year old Florida Junior Tour member Vicky Hurst, one of two sponsor exemptions for the Ginn OPEN, shot a 1-over 73 and is tied for 54th place after the first round of play. Hurst, of Melbourne, Fla., recorded two birdies and three bogeys on the day

Sorenstam withdraws from Ginn OPEN. LPGA Tour and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam withdrew from the 2007 Ginn OPEN before Thursday's first round due to a ruptured disc in her back. Sorenstam was diagnosed late Wednesday afternoon with a badly herniated Nucleus Pulposus (ruptured disc) in the C 5-6 area and a Thoracic (bulging disk) in the T 6-7 area after visiting doctors in South Florida following her pro-am on Wednesday. It marks the first time Sorenstam has withdrawn from a tournament since the 2003 Canadian Women's Open, when she played six holes and withdrew. She has played in three tournaments this season and has two top-10 finishes.

DNS/DQ: Jan Stephenson did not start the Ginn OPEN (personal). Minea Blomqvist replaced her in the field. Annika Sorenstam did not start the tournament (injury) and was replaced by Stephanie Louden. Jennifer Rosales did not start the tournament (illness) and Kris Tamulis entered the field.

Young Kim was disqualified for an incorrect scorecard.

FRST-ROUND LEADER QUOTES
Including: 
Lorena Ochoa | Laura Davies | Brittany Lincicome | Sherri Turner
Na Ri Kim | Mi Hyun Kim | Natalie Gulbis | Minea Blomqvist
Vicky Hurst | Nancy Lopez
 

Lorena Ochoa, 34-32=66 (-6)
Scorecard:

Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie – second shot into right bunker near green, chip to two feet
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: 7-iron to three feet
Hole 13, 408-yard par 4: bogey – 3-wood to left under bush unplayable, 5-wood on green, two-putt
Hole 16, 194-yard par 3: birdie – 7-wood to one foot
Hole 3, 518-yard par 5: birdie – 5-wood on green in two to 25 feet, two-putt
Hole 4, 356-yard par 4: birdie – wedge to nine feet
Hole 5, 176-yard par 3: bogey – 7-wood right, didn't get up and down, missed 12-foot putt
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie – 9-iron to two feet
Hole 7, 303-yard par 4: birdie – sand wedge short to 15 feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie – second shot short into right bunker, made five-foot putt

PAM WARNER: Thanks for joining us. Great round out there, 6 under par and in the lead right now. You had eight birdies today. Talk about how you played.
LORENA OCHOA: It was a good day. I'd been working on getting a good result the first day of the tournament. It makes a difference for me and that was a goal today, and I was glad that I started on the back nine, and I birdie the first hole and birdied No. 12.

It really gave me a good read. Tried to shoot for a low round. I make a lot of birdies. I think the key was hitting those irons close. I had a short putt, a lot of birdie chances. Just really happy the way I finish and being in the position I am for the first round of tournament.

Q. How do you feel about Annika pulling out? You're in a great position to take over that spot. What are your thoughts?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, I didn't know Annika pull out. Greg told me and told Dave and my caddie today in the round. I really feel sorry for her. Hopefully she's doing okay and will recover soon and be back. I wish her the best. She's a great player and a very nice person.

I think, you know, it's going to be a tough time these few weeks, but I think she'll be back strong. About my have chances, you know, I'm thinking the same way. I just to do my own thing and I'm going to keep doing the same.

Q. Wouldn't you rather take it as opposed to her being injured and then get it that way?
LORENA OCHOA: I would love for her to be playing, yes. So I guess, right now it's the way it is. But I think I better keep playing good and just take advantage of that. But I wish her all the best. Hopefully she will be here.

Q. What would it mean to you to win a major this year?
LORENA OCHOA: A lot. I think it would be something nice to just get done. I think I will have good chances. I feel more prepared and I think the experience in previous years that I've been playing really help me to be a better player and playing also playing in major. I'm going to keep trying hard and give myself chances, and hopefully it will come this year.

Q. When it does come for you this year, what sort of celebration would you expect?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't know. I'll let you know when it happens. I think it will be—something about the celebration is just what it means for me as a person, and it's a goal that I have. I have that goal for many years. When you win a major and win U.S. Women's Open you have that big trophy it will be a special thing.

Q. As you popularity grows, do you worry about being accessible to the fans?
LORENA OCHOA: I think I will always give as much time as I can to the fans. You know, now, and I did that a couple years ago and I will do it for the rest of my life. I compromise it's something that I respect very much is the fans. The fans come and watch us play and cheer for us. Sometimes it's hard because of the timing, but I will always give as much time as I can.

Q. You talked about getting off to a good start. Do you feel like that's a problem?
LORENA OCHOA: Not necessarily a problem, but I sometimes—I don't find myself in the tournament like until maybe the second round where I'm maybe three or four shots behind. And then if I am coming from behind, then I need to really come back and make a of birdies to make a great round Friday or Saturday.

I think it's key just to get a good first round and feel solid. Then you can have a different plan for the rest of the week.

Q. How does the plan change when you're on top of the leaderboard?
LORENA OCHOA: It feels better, and I don't feel in a rush that I need to just come tomorrow to go really low. The position I am in right now, I think tomorrow a solid round will be good. I'm always an aggressive player, and I'm going to try to it make as many birdies as I can. You know, 4 or 5 under will be great. It does make a big difference.

Q. What is it about the tournament that you like, about the course that you like?
LORENA OCHOA: I think today it was important just to take advantage early in the morning because the greens were really soft because of the rain last night. So I'm glad I did, because they will get a little bit faster and harder. In the practice round they were harder.

I think as the week goes on, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday going to be playing very different than today. So I'm glad I did that, because it's good to get a good start.

There are a lot of different lies: Downhill and up slope and different lies. I think you have to be hitting the ball good to create birdie opportunities. I'm glad it worked for me today. I think if you don't feel comfortable with your swing it could be a course that could really get you.

Q. How much time did you spend reflecting on the Kraft Nabisco Championship? Did you think much about it, or were you just looking ahead?
LORENA OCHOA: I always say I try it look ahead. But the only bad hole on 17, you know. At the same time I have nothing to worry about because it was only one hole, one bad shot, and I really—I think I had a
great chance. That always gets you a little bit upset because it was a good tournament to get.

But I was there and only one bad hole. I would be worried if I would be like making bogeys and bogeys or doubles. Or after the third round, getting a high round. But I'm pretty happy the way I finish. I was lucky enough to finish in the top-10. I want to keep going and hopefully break a record. As many top-10s as I can get.

Q. What were your impressions of the golf course (in Augusta)?
LORENA OCHOA: I was very impressed. The golf course, I always say—you never know if they're talking too much or you're thinking too much. When you get there you see what everybody's been talking about. I had high expectations and, I mean, it was what I thought: Really hilly, of course, and I can't believe those lies and the shapes of the greens. It's a special place to be. Hopefully I can play sometime.

Q. Tell me how much of an importance to you to bring the awareness of the game of golf to the country of Mexico?
LORENA OCHOA: It's very important. I think it's time to get more fans and little girls and boys playing. I think it's been a great experience for all of us. We're learning and in the process of—right now the game is more accessible and we have some public golf ranges and public golf course, and golf academies. We're trying to help kids to play the game. Little by little, hopefully we can continue that and hopefully there will be more Mexicans in the future out here.

Q. What's it like having a playing partner like Brittany (Lincicome)? Do you get along well? What do you talk about?
LORENA OCHOA: It's always good to me and Brittany get along pretty good. We were teasing around and just joking. You know, it was funny because, on the last few holes she was behind me and she gave me a good read of the greens. I was like, ‘I give them to you maybe tomorrow.' So it's always good to have a good playing partner and enjoy the day.

It's all about having a good time. I enjoy being around her. A great day today, and she finish strong and hopefully she will finish strong tomorrow.

 

Laura Davies, 34-32=66 (-6)
Scorecard: Hole 3, 518-yard par 5: eagle – 2-iron from 234 yards to 25 feet
Hole 5, 176-yard par 3: birdie – 6-iron to 12 feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: bogey – 2-iron into front left bunker, chip to 30 feet, three putt
Hole 11, 365-yard par 4: birdie – sand wedge from 112 yards to 12 feet
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie – 9-iron to two feet
Hole 13, 408-yard par 4: birdie – 7-iron from 175 yards down wind to 12 feet
Hole 17, 508-yard par 5: birdie – 4-iron into the bunker, chip to 12 feet

DANA GROSS RHODE: Laura, right now you're in a great position. You only have that one bogey, an eagle, five birdies, and unbelievable play today. Are the thoughts of the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame running through your mind right now as you're tied for the lead?
LAURA DAVIES: I'd need two (wins), so this wouldn't do it. But I mean, this would be a big step towards it. I just want to win a tournament again. I think it's been since 2001 in Rochester. I mean I've won around the world, just not won in the LPGA.

The Hall of Fame is distant. I think about it during the year, I'd like to do it. But in any given week, you don't really worry about that. You've too much else to worry about.

Q. What in your estimation kept you out of the winner's circle here in the U.S. for the last few years?
LAURA DAVIES: Really lack of confidence in the driver. I went back to Europe, last year in Switzerland, and finished second. Played really well; started driving it better again.

Since then, I've played really well this year without too much success. I'm 24th for the LPGA Official Money List and I think I've played a bit better than that. Today's round is what I've been hoping for rather than the rounds I've had. I've been shooting a lot of 1, 2 unders, which is not good enough out here anymore.

Q. Are you still hitting the driver off the ground?
LAURA DAVIES: I hit it off the deck. I think I hit three irons today. I hit one off the tee today on number nine. You got half of Florida on one side of the fairway and half on the other. Not even, I shouldn't have said that. Why did I say that?

Q. As you build your confidence with the driver, does that equate to using the tee? Would the extra distance help?
LAURA DAVIES: Not really, because we played such short golf courses that it doesn't really … I mean, I lose maybe five, 10 yards so it's not that big of a deal. If I needed length, if we played on 6,800-, 6,900 yard courses then you would see me trying to get back with the tee. But I just don't need it because the courses are just so short.

Q. Just doesn't he seem right. Distance has always been a big advantage for you.
LAURA DAVIES: Not with the ladies tour. It's never been an advantage on the ladies tour. It's always been about straight hitters and good putters. Men's tour, you need length. But on our Tour, you need accuracy and precision irons and you do need to putt really well.

Q. Did you play here last year? I can't remember.
LAURA DAVIES: Yep.

Q. What were your impressions and the amenities here as opposed to some of the other Tour stops? Is it a pretty good one?
LAURA DAVIES: Oh, it's first class. Last year it was a first year event. Obviously the people at Ginn are wanting to put on a good show, and they're certainly doing it. There won't be many players not wanting to play in this event and the next one up in South Carolina (Ginn Tribute Hosted by ANNIKA) as well.

Q. You and Sherri Turner, a couple veterans. Kind of close to the top, there obviously, playing among younger players. What's it like?
LAURA DAVIES: I feel like I'm young. That's the thing. I know I'm 43, but I certainly don't act or feel like it. Sometimes my left knee gets a bit troublesome. I get on well with all the younger girls, like Brittany (Lincicome). I get on really well with her.

Nice, nice players out here, now. It's good for the pairing. Just have a chat with them. It doesn't seem like I'm old enough to be some of their mothers. You talk just like friends. Doesn't seem quite like the age difference I don't think.

Q. How does the fan base here compare to other events?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I think—you mean the tournament, the stature of the tournament? I think it's such an early event in its history, the second year only. We're already seeing decent galleries. You've got the lovely big stands around the 18th. Just makes it feel like a quality event immediately. On the first tee, we had Nancy Lopez teeing off in front of us with a huge gallery. I think it's done very well.

Q. What are your thoughts on Annika's injury?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I heard about that. I didn't even know she had a bad back. Obviously it's not good for anybody if Annika is not playing. It's obviously bad and painful for Annika.

Q. Your thoughts on Lorena possibly surpassing Annika this week in the Rolex Rankings?
LAURA DAVIES: I think that's coming. It nearly happened with Dinah (Kraft Nabisco Championship). I think gradually she was going to wear down the points difference, and the inevitably it was going to happen.

I haven't spoken to Annika about it, but I wouldn't have thought she would lose too much sleep over it. She's done so well for I don't how long. It's inevitable that eventually someone is going to take over the mantle.

Q. Are you thinking much about the Solheim Cup at this point?
LAURA DAVIES: Not really. I'm doing really well on the points in Europe. I hope I'm in it. But it's in the back of your mind, The Solheim Cup. If I do well in majors, I get points in the European Tour, but this one wouldn't count for points.

Q. Do you think, to the casual fan, there are a lot more options of good players to watch out here?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah. I mean, I think that's true. Really Morgan just won the first major of the year. What is she, 19, 20? People want to see her play golf.

Q. 18.
LAURA DAVIES: See, 18 years old and she's already won a major. So there is a lot more to look at on the LPGA. It's the same as if Tiger had got a month long injury and a bad back. Not that people wouldn't watch it, but that they'd rather see the premium players up there, and Annika is and has been a premium player. Has been for a long time.
 

Brittany Lincicome, 35-32=67 (-5)
Scorecard: Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie – hybrid from 220 yards short of the green, two putt
Hole 12, 153-yard par 3: birdie – 7-iron to 15 feet
Hole 14, 387-yard par 4: bogey – took an unplayable off tee shot, 5-iron from 167 yards to 60 feet, two putt
Hole 17, 508-yard par 5: birdie – sand wedge out of the bunker to 30 feet
Hole 18, 421-yard par 4: bogey – chip out of the left rough to six feet, two putt
Hole 2, 146-yard par 3: bogey – 8-iron to 20 feet, three putt
Hole 3, 518-yard par 5: birdie – 3-wood from 237 yards to 20 feet
Hole 4, 356-yard par 4: birdie – sand wedge from 82 yards to one foot
Hole 5, 176-yard par 3: birdie – 4-iron to 25 feet
Hole 7, 303-yard par 4: birdie – sand wedge from 70 yards to 20 feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: sand wedge from 76 yards to six feet

DANA GROSS RHODE: You're coming off a great week. You were tied for second. You had a great round with eight birdies. Talk about your round.
BRITTANY LINCICOME: It was consistent. I was hitting a lot of good iron shots. I was worried this morning because I hadn't been hitting driver good all week. I actually snap hooked driver left and had to take an unplayable. Made bogey on 14. Was kind of worried after that.

Started calming down after that and took a couple good swings. Made a lot of long putts, a lot of 25 footers for birdie and a couple 10 footers for par. Putting save me today.

Q. How many long putts did you make?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I'd say probably three for birdies. Couple more trying to lag up there and they luckily hit the hole.

Q. Do you know how the course is playing compared to last year at this event?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I'd say the greens are holding better because of how much rain they got last night. They were already starting to look dried out and didn't look like they were watering too much the beginning of the week.

They're definitely fast, but definitely slowed them down. They're fast, don't get me wrong. But they're a little bit slower than they could have been. I wanted them to be really fast today. It's more fun, though. We can attack pins and the ball is going to spin and hold. We like to play it like that.

Q. What can you say about the golf course?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I think it's a fairly long golf course, couple of the holes are pretty long; and then the greens being hard. I mean, they're big greens. If you hit it in the wrong spot a two putt is kind of hard actually. It's windier today than it has been. So I think the length, a little bit of wind, and just how big the greens are, if you're on the wrong spot on the green it's a hard two putt.

I had a putt on one and I couldn't get it in, and my second putt was like 10 feet.

Q. Any thoughts on Annika withdrawing?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I just hope she's okay. I heard it's pretty bad. I heard she flew out to Miami to have it checked out. I'm sure she's pretty bummed.

Q. Do you feel like you're in a pretty good groove right now?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I think so. I played fairly well at the Kraft. I seem to have this 130, 135 shot on every single hole and that's a club that I don't have. I had it probably three or four times today. But I'm learning how to hit that easy 8 iron better this week than last week. So a couple holes I really saved myself out there. So I've just been playing pretty steady, which is good.

Q. What will it take to win the tournament?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: A lot more than last year, I know that. There's no rain in the forecast I don't think. I think I'm going to have to shoot 4 or 5 under each day, especially with Lorena out there now.

Q. What club do you need to hit that shot?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I don't know. They brought me a new set so hopefully it will fill in a gap. I don't have a 130 club and I don't have a 170 club. Those are two big gaps in there.

Q. Did you feed off Lorena today?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I did – on the front nine and then we calmed down a little bit. We made a few putts. She had hit it to like a foot on the really long par 3. I did it like two holes later. And I was like, ‘I'm trying to follow you.' She did it again like two holes later. I was like, ‘How am I supposed to keep up with you if you keep hitting it like that?' She was like, ‘You're just going to have to hit it better.'

I was like, ‘Golly.' Then I just started making 25 footers for birdie and she was sticking it to like a foot. So she's a lot of fun to play with. She hits a bad shot and still smiles, so it makes your day go a lot better.

Q. What impresses you most about her?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: She impresses me so much every time I play with her. I was telling my caddie all day, and he was like, ‘Don't worry about her, worry about your own game.' One hole, the par 3, I don't remember what hole it was, she choked down and hit a cut just to take some of the distance off of it and faded it right in there.

The next hole she was told her caddie she was going to hit it dead straight and not play into the wind. She didn't want it to ride the wind and get a little extra dip in.

She was going to hit it dead straight and it went dead straight. Just how she controls the golf ball is so impressive to me. She has the cut, the fade, the slice, the hook, all the shots. It's phenomenal to watch.

Q. Do you guys talk at all?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Yeah. Not really about the swing or anything. Just, ‘Hey, what did you do for dinner? What are you doing tomorrow?' Girl, stuff: Nails, hair, you know.

Q. Is that the great thing about the Tour, there is always someone to push you?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: Oh, yeah. Especially Annika is a great example, too, her and Lorena. The shots they have. Just watching it makes you want to learn a new shot. It's like going to watch Tiger and seeing the shots he hits and thinking, I never even thought about that shot.

It's fun to work on new shots other than just the swings you always work on.

Q. How are the long sleeves?
BRITTANY LINCICOME: I got fried yesterday, so I thought I would save my skin and wear long sleeves. With the sunscreen it's sticking. Trying to prevent skin cancer.
 

Sherri Turner, 33-35=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to 10 feet
Hole 7, 303-yard par 4: birdie – sand wedge to five feet
Hole 9, 492-yard par 5: birdie – 3-wood short of green, chip
Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie – 3-wood on green in two to 30 feet, two-putt
Hole 11, 365-yard par 4: birdie – wedge to three feet
Hole 14, 387-yard par 4: birdie – 9-iron to 10 feet
Hole 16, 194-yard par 3: bogey – 7-wood left, chip to 20 feet past hole, missed putt
Hole 18, 421-yard par 4: bogey – tee shot into left bunker

PAM WARNER: Hi Sherri, thanks for joining us today. You shot 4 under today and had a great round. Can you talk about how you played today?
SHERRI TURNER: I'm really proud of myself because I don't know how much you guys are following our Tour but the last couple tournaments I've really struggled. I was really glad we had a week between Palm Springs and here.

I was thinking way too much about my game. I was going to come out this week and have one thought: Just play. Basically I was able to do that today, so I was very proud of myself. Started out really solid. Made par, par, par, just a bunch of pars. And then I'm trying to think where my first birdie was.

Q. What did you hit off of the green on 9?
SHERRI TURNER: I hit my 3 wood, and I was just about ten yards short of the green. So then made the turn, and then 10 is another par 5. I hit my 3 wood onto the green, so I 2 putted for birdie this.

11 I birdie. I hit a wedge about three feet from the hole. I was hitting a lot solid shots, and the good thing was I was making my putts, too. I had a good chance on 12 and 13, and then I think 14 I made a birdie.

Yeah, 14 I had about a ten footer. 9 iron about ten feet there and made birdie. And then 15, I had another good chance about 12 feet that I just missed.

And then 16 I hit probably my first really poor shot of the day, because I was hitting a lot of fairways and greens prior to that. It's a long Par 3. I don't know how familiar you are this course, but the pin was way back on the back and it was into the wind. It was 198 yards to the hole, and we figured it was probably playing at least 205, maybe 210.

I tried to hit a 7 wood and I did not hit a very good shot. I missed it left. I was in a very difficult spot to get it up and down. I still almost made my putt for par. Hit it probably fifteen or twenty feet past the hole. Almost made my putt for par. So that was my first bogey.

So 17, par 5, I was debating I had like 220 to the front downhill and I was trying to decide whether or not to go for the green. I kind of laid back. But I hit a good wedge shot in there for probably ten feet and had a good chance there but totally misread the put putt, so made par there.

And then 18 I hit a bad tee shot and it went into the left bunker. From there I just finished with a bogey. So needless to say I was disappointed to finish bogey, par, bogey, because 17 is a good birdie hole, and you don't like it finish with two bogeys.

But overall I was very happy with my round, very happy.

Q. What was different today than the last couple weeks? Anything you changed in between?
SHERRI TURNER: Yes. I've been kind of working on a swing change. What I've been trying to rotate my hands more and swing to the left. But I had lost a lot of my power doing that, and I was sort of caught in between the change. My hands were kind of like flipping and doing other things.

So during the week off I started trying to keep my angle and hitting down on the ball and started hitting the ball a lot better, a lot more solid shots. Before it was a lot of shots that were going to the right. I think I only hit maybe one of those today. It was a big difference.

Whether or not my swing looked different, it felt a lot different to me. Mentally it made a big difference.

Q. Your last win on Tour was 1989.
SHERRI TURNER: Yep.

Q. What do you remember about that?
SHERRI TURNER: Seems like it was just yesterday in some ways. But when I look around at the kids our there, I realize that it's been a long time. But a lot's happened obviously in all those years. The Tour's gotten quite a bit younger, and a lot of the young players call me Grandma. Okay, that's fine. As long as you recognize I'm still here.

I know I'm the oldest player out here. Sometimes I know it and I really feel it. But some days when I play well or if I just hit one really good shot, you know, I realize why I'm still here: Because I still love to compete, and this is probably going to be my last year. I pretty much told most of my friends that.

And I just I'd like to have a few good tournaments this year and go out with a decent finish in my career. But there's been a lot of changes in this Tour. Myself and Julie Inkster and a couple other girls that are 45 and older we certainly keep the age average up because otherwise it would be about twenty out here I think.

Q. What does it mean to have Nancy back?
SHERRI TURNER: I think it's awesome. I personally have not seen her this week to talk to her. But I was really disappointed when she decided to retire. I understood completely with her kids that it was a time to go away, but I think it's exciting for our Tour to have her back.

Nancy Lopez has made 24 tour over the years. I think it's going to be a great thing for the young players to have her out and around the Tour. I know a couple year ago some of the girls got to know her from the Solheim Cup that wouldn't have got to know her before.

So I think it's a really good thing that she's going to be around. I don't think how many events she's going to play in. Somebody told me ten this year. I don't know. But I think it's a great thing.

Q. What about now, has the field opened up a little bit without Annika now for maybe a month or longer?
SHERRI TURNER: What do you mean?
PAM WARNER: Annika withdrew this morning.
SHERRI TURNER: I didn't know that.

Q. Yeah, she's got a ruptured disc.
SHERRI TURNER: I did not know that. I'm very, very sorry to hear that. You well, you hate to hear that anybody's injured. Sounds like it's serious. Did she do that when did that happen?

Wow. You know, our Tour, we've had a lot different winners so far. Certainly Annika will certainly be missed for sure, and I'm sure she'll miss not playing because we have a lot of good events coming up. I'm sure she's hoping to get back out as soon as she can.

This Tour is wide open now. Obviously Annika is the No. 1 player, no doubt. Lorena has come on obviously in the last year or so. It's good to see that Annika is being challenged in some ways. But I think that's probably making Annika want to work harder, too. I don't have any idea. Maybe that's making her work harder. I think it's good for Annika to have some competition, but I'm really sorry to hear about her injuries.

Q. You hit a couple shots that maybe reminds you why you're still out here. What were some of the shots?
SHERRI TURNER: My second shot on 10, when I hit it onto the green. I hit a couple irons that were just all over the pin the whole way. They looked like they might even have a chance to go in. Gets your heart going a little bit like, Yeah.

Q. Who calls you Grandma?
SHERRI TURNER: Well, a lot of the girls do. It's okay. I'm actually all right with that. But one of the gals, Kristy McPherson, one of the other players, was introducing me to her. They said, We just all call her Grandma. She just looked at me and she said, I can't call her grandma.

Kristy is a real southern girl. Much more than I am, and I'm from South Carolina. She said, I can call her Mama, but I can't call her grandma. A lot of the young girls call me that. But it's okay. I don't mind it at all.

Q. How did you decide this year would be the last year?
SHERRI TURNER: I had sort of thought about making last year my last year at the beginning of last year. I had a good enough year to where I was exempt for Nabisco, exempt for the Open, and you know, I thought, Well, maybe I should just go play one more year.

The last time the Open was on the Pine Needles I played well. So I thought I really want to go back there. I'm not the type of player that's going to go play in the Open and not have made any other events.

So I look around and he see all these young girls and think, maybe it's time for me to move aside and let them take over.

Q. Is there still a chance that you could play well enough that year that you change your mind again?
SHERRI TURNER: I'm not going to say that I'm 100 percent certain that I'm not coming back. I think there's a pretty good chance. Probably the toughest part for me is this is my 24th year on Tour, and it's a lot of travel. Probably more than anything I'm getting tired of the travel and I kind of want to settle down in one spot.

You guys probably know what I'm saying when I say that. Every time I get on the plane I seem to dislike it more and more. I'm like, Ah.
 

Na Ri Kim, 35-33=68 (-4)
Scorecard: Hole 4, 356-yard par 4: birdie – pitching wedge from 115 yards to two feet
Hole 5, 176-yard par 3: double bogey – 5-iron from 175 yards short of right bunker to 45 feet, three putt
Hole 6, 415-yard par 4: birdie – 6-iron from 165 yards to 39 feet
Hole 8, 406-yard par 4: birdie – 7-iron from 153 yards to 24 feet
Hole 10, 528-yard par 5: birdie – 58-degree wedge from 55 yards to 12 feet
Hole 14, 387-yard par 4: birdie – 9-iron from 135 yards to nine feet
Hole 15, 340-yard par 4: birdie – pitching wedge from 110 yards to six feet
Hole 17, 508-yard par 5: birdie – sand wedge out of the bunker to 12 feet
Hole 18, 421-yard par 4: bogey – 7-iron from 160 yards to the edge of the green (39 feet), past six feet; missed putt

DANA GROSS RHODE: Na Ri, I want to say congratulations. You had a very good round. How do you feel about your round? What went really well for you out there today?
NA RI KIM (via translator): Today I had a very good round. My shot was really good. However, I was missing a lot of short putts, and thankfully my long putt was able to get into the hole.

So I was able to make some birdies, and overall I had a good round.

Q. You got off to a very good start, and you shot a good score. How were those long putts for you?
NA RI KIM: Two long putts. Myself and my caddie were talking about the long putt, and then we agreed 100 percent on the line. So we were just trying to put it closer to the pin and then it just went in.

Q. What do you think you would have shot had you made a lot of the short putts?
NA RI KIM: I miss three really short putts for birdie. And so there were quite a few par putts for short putt that I made it bogey. So if I had made all that, probably very good score.

Q. How were you playing coming into the event yesterday when you were playing in the Pro Am or practice round? Or this week coming in, did you feel that you were on top of your game?
NA RI KIM: If I came to this event I was practicing a lot on my shots, iron shots, and I thought that I was going to do well on the shots. When I came here it was the weather issues and all that, so I start kind of getting worried.

But my shots were good. I was focusing on shots, so I wasn't really paying attention to putting. So I guess putting wasn't too good today.

Q. During the round, did you feel that you had a very good score in you, like you could shoot a very good score today during the round?
NA RI KIM: On the first, obviously I started with a double bogey so I was kind of worried. Okay, this is going to be a tough round. I was just trying to keep my pace, trying to make one shot at a time, and then it started to work out.

And then so, ‘Okay, maybe I can do this. There's a lot of holes left. I can shoot some good scores.' So I was going one by one, hole by hole, and there were a lot of chances for me to make birdies, so that's how it happened.

Q. Have you been in this position before shooting 5 under in the first round? And you have a long time before teeing off tomorrow. You have all afternoon and then all morning tomorrow. Will you be doing a lot of practicing?
NA RI KIM: No, I haven't been on this, and tomorrow I'll just do the same thing that I do every week. I usually come out hour and a half before my tee time and try to warm up, and that's what I'm going to do tomorrow. And then, you know, I'm just going to try to play like today.
 

QUICK QUOTES
Mi Hyun Kim, 35-33=68 (-4)
“I had a bogey on my first hole. Beginning today, it felt like I was playing a little weird. I felt like I was playing good, but my shot was funny; I wasn't making my putts. After the first seven or eight holes, I began to come back (birdies on holes eight and nine). My short game was good today”

“When I changed my swing (earlier in the year), I hit it farther than before. My second shot today, on every hole was almost the same as last year, so that was good for me.”

“Before, I shot ok, but I was not making my putts. After I made a long putt on eight—about 35 feet—I felt comfortable because I was at even par. I told myself, ‘Try to start right now.'”

“Last year, the fairways and greens were more firm and the putting was a little faster. The greens and fairways are softer this year. The greens are slower and are holding.”
 

Natalie Gulbis, 33-36=69 (-3)
Q. I know that wasn't the way you wanted to end the round because you had it going for a while.
NATALIE GULBIS: Yeah, played good. Played really solid. All the shots I missed all happened during one hole. That's golf.

Q. You put yourself in pretty good shape.
NATALIE GULBIS: Yeah. I think anything in the 60s would have been good on this golf course today.

Q. We interviewed you last year here. You like this golf course, you like it here?
NATALIE GULBIS: I love this golf course. If you hit the ball well you can make a lot of birdies. You miss shots and you're penalized. I like that about courses

Q. What's the strategy for tomorrow?
NATALIE GULBIS: Hit a lot of fairways and greens. That's what I did today was I had a lot of chances. Didn't miss too many greens.

Q. How has the heat affected you?
NATALIE GULBIS: I love it. I love this weather. I hate cold weather, so this is great.

Q. Can you walk through your last hole?
NATALIE GULBIS: Driver into the left rough, rescue into the left bunker. It was a 40-yard chip that went over the green, about 30 feet away and I didn't get up and down.
 

Minea Blomqvist, 34-35=69 (-3)
Q. You had a 3 under today. After coming in off the alternate list, how excited are you with your performance?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Very, very happy, because you just want to play right now. Just get on the course because I missed three cuts and one disqualify. I'm so happy to play and then you learn.

I am rooming with Helen Alfredsson this week and we've been talking a lot about my mental game. I just wanted to get out and try it.

Q. Have you been working on your mental game in the off season?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: No. More swing stuff. I have a new coach.

Q. And how did everything go today?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: I was very patient. I'm a young player. I think sometimes I try a little bit too hard and try to go to the pins. When you play with a little bit older players that have experience, they play very patient game. That's what I tried to do today. Just tried to get myself in the right spot, just try for a birdie.

Q. Did you have any highlight holes?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Yeah, I had one eagle, on seven. So I had 60 yards. That was the first one I made (on a par 4) since—I don't remember. Maybe I made one eagle when I was something like 16. Yeah, in the par 4.

Q. Can you go over the hole? How long was your drive or what club did you use off the tee?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Driver.

Q. How far was it, do you know?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: I don't have that. I had a 60 yard chip.

Q. What did you use?
MINEA BLOMQVIST: Lob wedge.
 

Vicky Hurst, 38-35=73 (+1)
“I played OK today. Just another good round tomorrow, and everything will go my way, hopefully.”

“I missed a couple short birdie putts, but I think in the end, it was a good score.”

“Last year, playing the (U.S.) Women's Open, that was a great experience for me, but there, nobody knew who I was or was following me. Here, all my friends are supporting me, and I'm the sponsor's exemption, so a lot more people are watching me, so it was a little bit different last year from the U.S. Women's Open.”

“The conditions, they were hot, but not too windy. From the rain yesterday, everything kind of slowed down. The course played great, and I guess I played OK too. I didn't have any big, huge missed shots that cost me anything.”

“In the morning, it's going to be more dewy, so it'll still be a little bit wet. I think the rain last night helped my game, because I'm not used to everything being so hard and fast.”

Q. What is it like having a gallery out there following you and showing their support?
VICKY HURST: I get kind of nervous, but I know them all. They're just supporting me. It's great. The first hole, when they announced my name, and everyone roared, it was kind of nerve-racking, but from then on, it was just, play my own game. I hooked that first drive, but I didn't really care. It was still in play.

Q. Were you thinking about your dad today?
VICKY HURST: I was thinking about him a little bit, but I was just trying to play my own game, because I knew he was with me. (Tomorrow), I just want to play a solid round and see what happens from there.”

Q. How do you feel about being ahead of some of the best players in the world?
VICKY HURST: I didn't get to see where they were at, so I wasn't sure. But now that I know, it's kind of a cool feeling.

Q. You think you could get used to this?
VICKY HURST: Yes (Laughing).
 

Nancy Lopez, 36-47=83 (+11)
Q. The round of applause on the first tee must have made you feel pretty good.
NANCY LOPEZ: I was a little nervous on the first hole. I hit a good drive, good second shot and a good putt and made par. I played really well on the front side and on the back, I had three double bogies. It was all short game. I didn't get on the green and didn't get up and down. Not even close. That's been the best part of my game, so I was a little disappointed.

I'm working hard and I feel like I have a really good attitude right now. I'm feeling the pressure of trying to get back in there and maybe even get close to winning. I would have liked to stop there at 4-over instead of 11-over. I practice a lot and maybe I'm practicing a few bad habits since I don't have a teacher right now. When I do swing, it's really solid, it's just a mental thing. I've got to get out there and trust it.

I really putted pretty fair. Made some putts. I just have a lot of positive feelings. I'm going for it and I'm going to work real hard.

I really want to play good tomorrow. Hopefully come back tomorrow with a really good score and have a good comeback round. When you are working on something and its working then it gives you that good attitude.

Q. You said a couple days ago that you once lost the butterflies, the nerves, but now you are telling me that there was a bit of that out there.
NANCY LOPEZ: Yeah, I felt a lot of competition within myself today, even though I struggled. I felt like it mattered to me. I cared. When I hit a bad shot today, I had that madness that I used to get. But it just comes from practicing and getting back into competition.