Marilyn Lovander, buoyed by a hole-an-one, and Mardi Lunn of Australia tied the course record with 6-under-par 66s today to share the first-round lead in the LPGA Area Web.Com Challenge at the Pleasant Valley Country Club.

Play was delayed for 2 hours, 19 minutes by thunderstorms, but the entire field was able to finish.

Dottie Pepper, Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Caroline Blalock were at 5-under 67.

Lovander, the leading money-winner on the Futures Tour, included a hole-in-one in a round that also had six birdies and two bogeys.

Lunn had six birdies in a consistent round. She reached 6-under when she rolled in a 35-foot birdie putt on the first hole she played after the delay, but missed birdie putts on her final two holes.

Lovander birdied the 18th hole from 10 feet for her best round in an LPGA tournament.

It was Lovander's hole-in-one on the 143-yard seventh hole, though, that drew the most attention. Lovander used an 8-iron for her first career ace.

"I was very relaxed out there," she said. "This is my 11th event in a row, so I'm really tired. I think that was a difference today.

"You just stand up there and see things how they are."

Pepper combined six birdies with one bogey for her 5-under round.

"I had some good chances out there, but left putts hanging on six and nine," Pepper said. "I think I was more comfortable with my putter in my hand today."

As for her decision to play at Pleasant Valley, Pepper said, "I enjoy playing in New England and I'm not going to the British (Open). I try to schedule tournaments for the golf courses I play well on, and I heard I'd probably like this one."

Gallagher-Smith, who won her first LPGA event two weeks ago, was at 7-under with five holes to play, but bogeyed the next two holes.

Jan Stephenson, Sherri Steinhauer, Kristi Coats, Cindy Figg-Currier and Jennifer Feldott were at 4-under 68.

AP