Daniel leads after record round

Beth Daniel shot a 10-under 62 Friday to take a four-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Safeway Classic and tie the course record set by defending champion Annika Sörenstam.

Daniel, who earlier this year became the oldest player to win on the LPGA Tour, birdied seven of the last nine holes at the 6,327-yard Columbia Edgewater Country Club course.

Grace Park and Cristie Kerr were tied for second at 66, while Sörenstam, who played in the same threesome as Daniel, was another stroke back.

"Everything just went right for me," said Daniel, who won the Canadian Women's Open in July at age 46 for her 33rd career title and first since 1995.

The LPGA Hall of Famer didn't have to putt from farther than 14 feet on her last four birdies of the round. Her first one of the day was a 36-footer on No. 6.

It was her last putt on the 383-yard closing hole that gave her the most satisfaction, with Sörenstam watching Daniel tie the record she set last year.

"That last one was really sweet," Daniel said.

Sörenstam got off to a poor start. She hit the back of the green on the first hole to put herself within easy birdie range at about 15 feet, but she bogeyed after running her first putt well past the cup and missing the return.

Sörenstam began the second nine with a nearly perfect second shot on the 501-yard, par-5 10th that again was less than 15 feet from the pin. But she missed her eagle putt and her return for birdie rimmed the cup.

"Sometimes that happens but you can't dwell on those things," Sörenstam said.

She complained of feeling a little tired for the three-day tournament, but said the greens were some of the best she has played this year.

"When you have greens this pure, you're going to see some low scores," Sörenstam said.

She praised Daniel for her record-tying round, and said the pairing helped them both.

"It's always good to play with someone that good to get the momentum going," Sörenstam said.

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