McGill & Ammaccapane top leaderboard

Jill McGill and Danielle Ammaccapane shot 6-under 66s Thursday and shared the lead after the first round of the Betsy King Classic.

McGill, who an eagle and six birdies, was 7 under heading to the final hole, but she missed a 6-foot par putt to drop into the tie.

"I'm going to go out and buy a lottery ticket," said McGill, who is seeking the first victory of her seven-year career. "I had some luck out there today. It has been an up and down year. Maybe my hard work is starting to pay off."

McGill's eagle 2 came on her 14th hole when she made a pitching wedge from 110 yards.

Ammaccapane, who didn't have a bogey, is looking to end a four-year drought with the eighth victory of her LPGA career.

"I felt pretty comfortable out there," Ammaccapane said. "I was never between clubs and never really in trouble out there today. Certainly, I will take this for a first round."

Michelle McGann, Carri Wood, Wendy Doolan and Michelle Ellis all had 67s. Moira Dunn, Susan Ginter-Brooker, Wendy Doolan and Stefania Croce were at 68.

McGill hopes luck can help turn her whirlwind year around, one that featured an invitation to pose in Playboy earlier in the season. She has missed her last two cuts and her best finish this year was a tie for 12th in the Women's U.S. Open.

"That's not an issue anymore," McGill said of the Playboy propsoal. "It was very valid. But it proved to be distracting. Now, I want to get in focus. Actually, I thought I played pretty well when I missed those two cuts."

Rachel Teske, the 1998 Betsy King champion, led a group of six at 69.

Defending champion Heather Daly-Donofrio had six bogeys in a 76 and the tournament host was at 73.

Annika Sorenstam, the champion here in 1996 and 1997, and Juli Inkster - the two top money-winners on the tour - were not in the field. Se Ri Pak, third on the money list, was at 70.

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