Annika Sorenstam in contention as storms hit

Annika Sorenstam, bidding for a women's golf Grand Slam, overcame a nervous start to fire a level par 71 to stand two strokes off the pace at the storm-interrupted US Women's Open.

The 34-year-old Swedish star has won six of her eight tournaments this year, including major titles at the Kraft Nabisco and LPGA Championship, but she has never owned the lead after the opening round.

"It's a good start. Around par is always good for the Open," Sorenstam said. "If somebody had told me on the first tee, 'We'll give you level par,' I think I would have taken it."

American amateur Brittany Lang and US veteran Angela Stanford owned the clubhouse lead at two-under par 69 while France's Karine Icher was two-under after 14 holes when play was halted due to lightning.

LPGA Championship runner-up Michelle Wie, a 15-year-old US amateur set to compete against men the next two weeks, was one-under after 15 holes.

A total of 48 players were forced to try and complete their first round Friday morning and follow into their second rounds.

Sorenstam opened with a bogey and struggled to salvage pars on her next three holes, troubled when her tee shots ventured into the US Open's trademark deep rough.

"I was nervous on the first tee, hit my tee shot right and struggled there," Sorenstam said. "On the second hole, I missed my tee shot as well and was a little out of rhythm, but then I hit a good tee shot on three and after that I calmed down and played pretty good."

Sorenstam, who also closed with a bogey, found her experience playing against men at the PGA Colonial served her well in this women's showdown, which had similar pressure.

"I could breathe today," Sorenstam said. "Then again, I hit the fairway at Colonial (on the first hole) and I didn't today, but the experience I got at Colonial is coming in really handy this week.

"I put a lot of pressure on myself and I really want to do well here. When you stand on the tees, you know you have to hit the fairways, so that's double pressure right there."

Sorenstam seeks her 63rd career title. She leads the LPGA money list with 1.5 million dollars in winnings and is 26-under par in nine rounds at women's majors this year.

Stanford, a playoff loser at the 2003 US Open, has struggled this season, failing to crack the top 10 in 13 starts. She blames poor putting but looked well here, dropping a 25-foot putt at the fourth hole and avoiding trouble.

"You have to be in the short stuff to give yourself a chance into the green," Stanford said. "This year has been a bumpy ride so far and I think I have been learning along the way to be patient, and that really came in handy."

Lang, a 19-year-old Duke University student, could have been the solo leader in the clubhouse but took a bogey on the 18th.

"I was pretty confident," Lang said. "I knew I could shoot a low number. I played yesterday and hit it the best I have in a long time."

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