Associated Press
Thursday, August 24

EAST LANSING, Mich. -- So much for the ill effects of jet lag.

Meg Mallon, still a bit groggy after her trip from the Women's British Open, tied her personal best and set a tournament record Thursday with a 10-under 62 in the first round of the Oldsmobile Classic.

	Meg Mallon played both sides in 31 to set a course record.

Mallon, who shared the previous record of 63 with four others, shot 31 on both sides during her bogey-free round. She took a two-stroke lead over Michelle McGann, seeking her first win since 1997.

Karrie Webb, who has two majors among her five tour wins this season, shot a 66 to match Tracy Hanson, Mitzi Edge and Jenny Lidback.

Rookie Jennifer Rosales was another shot back at 67.

"I guess you could say I was in a zone out there," said Mallon, who won the du Maurier -- the season's final major -- before heading to England last week. "Everything is very clear in your head. There could be a freight train running through it, and you wouldn't notice."

Mallon and Webb played in the morning. McGann, who won this tournament in 1996, played in the afternoon.

"Meg likes this course, too," said McGann, who also played in England last week. "It doesn't surprise me. But, remember, it's only Thursday."

Mallon, who grew up in the Detroit suburb of Birmingham, was cheered by a sizable following of family and friends all the way around the 6,241-yard layout at Walnut Hills Country Club.

"I saw a lot of familiar faces," Mallon said. "Even some from high school. It was nice to give them something to cheer about."

They didn't have to wait long.

Mallon, who needed only 23 putts, set the tone on the 373-yard first hole, where she was forced to run in a 15-foot putt to save par. She knew from that point on that she had the greens figured right.

"The putt on one was the turning point of the day," Mallon said.

Maybe. But she helped her cause considerably by pitching in from 95 yards for an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole. She also chipped in from 25 feet for birdie at the par-3 13th.

"Playing at Royal Birkdale last week, you had to hit so many different golf shots over there," Mallon said. "Coming back here, I felt like I was a better golfer."

This wasn't Mallon's first 62, but it was probably her best.

"I had another 62 in Myrtle Beach a few years ago," Mallon said. "But I bogeyed the last hole to shoot 62, so it was nice to birdie the last one here."

McGann eagled No. 14, a 440-yard hole the women play as a par 5. She also managed to save par with a 10-foot putt after driving into the water on the sixth hole.

"I've been taking some inspiration from watching Tiger Woods," McGann said. "He's not knocking everything stiff. You know, when you make a bad shot, you have to recover from it."

Webb, who had complained about jet lag after playing in Wednesday's pro-am event, said she was able to sleep well the night before her opening round.

"I slept through most of the night," Webb said. "I missed the end of 'Survivor.' I was trying to stay awake, but I just couldn't. So, I'm getting there."

With Mallon and Webb, who between them have won three of the season's four majors, headlining the field, it's possible that many tournament records could fall this weekend.

Beth Daniel and defending champion Dottie Pepper -- out this week with a back injury -- share the 36-hole record at 14-under 130. Lisa Walters was at 199 after three rounds in 1998, on her way to winning with a tournament-record 23-under 265.

Mallon, who shot a final-round 63 in 1996, might easily reach that figure.

Yet, this time, it might not be good enough to win. Not with McGann and Webb lurking.

"Karrie is a great player and she has a great game," Mallon said. "She's very aggressive. I know she'll come out with full guns (on Friday). It will be interesting to see how we both react."