Daly-Donofrio leads first round

Heather Daly-Donofrio fired a career-low, seven-under 65 to take the lead after the first round of the Betsy King Classic Thursday. Daly-Donofrio holds a one-stroke lead over Rachel Teske after a rain-filled afternoon.

"I hit the ball exceptionally well out there today," said Daly-Donofrio. "I don't think I missed one fairway out there and I hit 16 greens."

The 32-year-old began her round on the 10th where she pitched to within four feet for the first of five birdies over her first nine holes.

"It is always nice to birdie the first hole because we always say that you cannot birdie all 18 if you don't birdie the first hole," she said. "I hit a nice iron in there close, really all day, there were no 30-footers or anything out there and it was an easy round of golf and you know you only get that every once in a while so you have to savor it when you do."

Daly-Donofrio, who has been experiencing back problems, added two more birdies on her inward nine. On the first hole she hit a nine-wood to the fringe which left her with a 15-foot birdie putt. Her lob-wedge on the par- five fifth left her with a three-foot putt for her seventh birdie of a flawless round.

"Everything went well out there especially since I was not sure, but everything went well and overall this day was such a blessing," she said.

Daly-Donofrio completed her round early, before the rain began to have any effect on the course.

Play was never suspended, allowing players like Teske to finish their rounds in the rain.

"I went off at 12:20, and I am not sure what time or what hole I was on but usually when you are out there you can see a little bit of blue sky," said Teske. "But today it was just gray out there everywhere so I knew we were just stuck with rain."

Wendy Doolan, who trails Daly-Donofrio by two shots after a round of 67, also played the majority of her round in the rain.

"It was drizzling out there today and then it was a hard rain for about seven holes out there so we were under umbrellas to stay dry," she said.

Doolan played a five-iron to within 12 feet on the final hole to close her round with a birdie and move into third place alone.

Pat Hurst, Moira Dunn, and Catriona Matthew are all three shots off the lead at four-under 68.

Seven players finished tied at three-under 69 including defending champion Michele Redman.

Betsy King posted a round of one-under 71 to finish six strokes off the lead.

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