Associated Press
Thursday, May 11
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Pat Hurst is finally getting her swing back after giving birth to her first child, and it paid off Thursday with a 7-under 65 and a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Electrolux USA Championship.
Hurst had four of her six birdies on the back nine into gusting winds and added an eagle and a bogey for her lowest round this year.
Cindy Figg-Currier and Kristal Parker each shot 67s, while Meg Mallon was among six players at 69.
Winds slowed play as golfers struggled with the Ironhorse Course at The Legends Club. Some called it tricky, and Amy Fruhwirth, who had a 69, said it was a little unfair with some players fighting to reach par-4s.
Karrie Webb, looking for her fifth LPGA victory and seventh title this year after winning in Japan last weekend, had two bogeys and one birdie in a 73. She walked off the course to practice her putting without talking to reporters.
Hurst didn't have any trouble on what she called nearly a perfect day.
She finally has worked her swing back to the fade she prefers from the draw she found herself using during her pregnancy and after giving birth to her son last June. She also is visualizing shots better.
Recovering from childbirth hasn't been easy. Even though she was able to play 18 holes a week after giving birth, Hurst said she returned too soon by heading back on tour in the middle of August.
She tied her career-low with a 64 in the opening round of the Oldsmobile Classic, her second event back on tour last August. But she struggled and won only $91,903 in 16 events, her worst total since turning pro in 1995.
"Mentally and physically, I just wasn't there yet," Hurst said.
Hurst has shown flashes this year of the golfer who won her first major in 1998 at the Nabisco Dinah Shore and had 11 top-10 finishes. She had her best finish at the Welch's/Circle K Championship with every round in the 60s as she came in second behind Annika Sorenstam.
She tinkered with her putting grip last month, switching to the crosshanded style favored by Webb.
"It took a while for me to get my swing back into shape. It's coming around. I'm hitting the ball well," she said. "It's just a matter of getting the putts to drop."
The changes paid off Thursday as Hurst wasn't bothered by winds that forced golfers to move up at least a club or two on shots. She birdied the first hole, a 384-yard par-4, after hitting a wedge to five feet and stumbled on the par-5 fourth when she failed to get up and down after missing the green short with a wedge.
Hurst rebounded two holes later when she hit an 8-iron to four feet for a birdie, and she grabbed a share of the early lead when she took advantage of the 470-yard, par-5 seventh. She reached the
green in two with a 4-iron and made her longest putt of the day, a 15-footer, for eagle.
Tied with Mhairi McKay at 3-under as she made the turn, Hurst used her lob wedge to set up birdie putts on Nos. 10, 14, 15 and 17 with her longest putt just eight feet.
Hurst could have tied her career-low, but she missed a birdie putt on No. 18 by inches to the left.
Divots
Cindy McCurdy withdrew Wednesday night when a case of viral meningitis that sickened her earlier this year returned. McCurdy, who had played the past two weeks, went to a hospital in Atlanta. Liz Earley took her place and shot a 79.
Becky Iverson withdrew after six holes due to illness.
The tournament has taken the place on the LPGA Tour schedule of the Sara Lee Classic, which had been held in the Nashville area for 11 years.
Thursday, May 11
FRANKLIN, Tenn. -- Pat Hurst is finally getting her swing back after giving birth to her first child, and it paid off Thursday with a 7-under 65 and a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the Electrolux USA Championship.
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| Hurst was just one stroke shy of her career best round. |
