Associated Press
Thursday, June 1

MURRELLS INLET, S.C. -- Michelle McGann and rookie Grace Park shot 6-under 66s on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the Kathy Ireland Greens.com Classic.

	Michelle McGann has seven career titles, but none since 1997.

Jenny Lidback was a stroke back and Cristie Kerr and Karen Stupples opened with 68s in the LPGA Tour event that resembles the PGA Tour's "Dead Zone" of starless tournaments following The Masters.

With the LPGA Tour's second major, the LPGA Championship, scheduled in three weeks, several of the sport's biggest names skipped the $750,000 event at Wachesaw Plantation.

Karrie Webb, a four-time winner this year, is fishing during a two-week vacation at her Florida home that ends next week. Anika Sorenstam and Laura Davies, both two-time winners, are in Sweden for the Chrysler Open.

Jim Etzel, vice president of business development for first-time sponsor Greens.com, says the players have difficult choices to make in their 35-week schedule.

"Tiger Woods only plays 17 or 18 events a year on the PGA," Etzel said. "We hope we can do some little things to make it more attractive to the players."

The scene stealer so far this week has been Ireland, the calendar girl who has spun through South Carolina promoting her golf apparel line, her tournament, her distaste for the Confederate flag and her love for golf.

"I just wanted to show my daughter (18-month-old Lily) that there are role models for her out there," Ireland said of her LPGA involvement.

But McGann, seeking her first victory since 1997, doesn't believe she's contending in a "Who's that?" event.

"We all have different fans, people were driving in from Raleigh to see me," said McGann, known for her flowery, large-brimmed hats. "We really can't control that. I feel our tour has a lot of strong players that people want to see."

Park is quickly becoming one of them. Only weeks ago, the 21-year-old former Arizona State star had missed four cuts in her previous six tournaments and was questioning everything about her game.

"My confidence was way down. It had never been that low," she said.

But as quickly as it took for a sweetly struck 3-wood off the 15th tee in the first round of last week's LPGA Corning Classic to land long and straight in the fairway, Park was back on target.

"That shot was so good, so pure," she said. "Last week, for the first time all year, I hit the ball really well and had a lot of birdie opportunities."

Park, leading the tour's rookie standings, carried that into tight, tricky Wachesaw. She had a tap-in birdie on the par-5 10th and rolled in an 8-footer for birdie two holes later. Park moved within a stroke of McGann with another 8-foot birdie putt on the 16th and caught her by floating a 25-yard bunker shot into the cup at No. 18.

"It's a great finish, a great feeling to make that shot," said Park, who jammed her left arm in the air after the shot went in. "Sometimes, you just get lucky."

McGann didn't need luck, just a quick round in the increasing Southern temperatures. She is a diabetic who uses an insulin pump while playing and must check her blood sugar several times a round.

"I feel good," said McGann, who tied for third three weeks ago in Nashville, Tenn. "My health is good. I am going to have to eat a little more tomorrow with playing in the afternoon."

McGann, who started on the 10th tee, made birdies putts from 10 feet or less on Nos. 1, 3, 5 and 7. She got to 6-under with a 15-foot put for birdie on the par-3 eighth.

Lidback was 6-under through 14 holes, but three-putted the par-5 17th to fall one shot back of the lead.