GOLF: Lincicome fires 61 for first-round LPGA lead

DANVILLE, Calif. (AP) - Brittany Lincicome shot an 11-under 61 on Thursday, recording the tour's best round of the season on the first day of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

Lincicome had 11 birdies at the 6,185-yard Blackhawk Country Club, posting the second-lowest score in relation to par in tour history. The 61 also was a career best for Lincicome, who entered the week 62nd on the money list.

Wendy Ward was four shots back after a bogey-free 65. Moira Dunn had a 66 and Jin Young Pak, Michele Redman, Amy Hung and Katherine Hull were at 5 under following the first round.

Lincicome used her power off the tees and a soft touch around the greens to avoid trouble all afternoon, finishing with just 24 putts. Her lone mistake came on the par-5 No. 5, when she pushed her tee shot right into the rough and had to scramble to save par.

Lincicome set the course record and came within two shots of matching Annika Sorenstam's LPGA Tour-record 13-under 59 at the Standard Register PING in 2001.

Cristie Kerr shot a 1-over 73. Kerr likely needs to place in the top five to overtake Ai Miyazato for the No. 1 ranking.

This is the tour's only stop in Northern California and could be its last. CVS/pharmacy is not extending its agreement with the tournament, leaving the event without its primary sponsor.

Frys.com Open

SAN MARTIN, Calif. (AP) - Rocco Mediate had a hole-in-one on the par-3 third hole and shot a bogey-free 7-under 64 to top the leaderboard in the first round of the Frys.com Open.

Paul Goydos, Bo Van Felt and Ryuji Imada opened with 65s, and John Mallinger, Michael Letzig, Will MacKenzie and Shaun Micheel had 66s. U.S. Ryder Cup player Rickie Fowler shot a 69.

The tournament, the third of five Fall Series events, is in its first year at CordeValle Golf Club after three seasons at Grawhawk in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 46-year-old Mediate used a 6-iron on the 190-yard third hole for the hole-in-one, his second of the year. He also had am ace in the third round of the John Deere Classic in July.

Portugal Masters

VILAMOURA, Portugal (AP) - Robert Karlsson and Johan Edfors of Sweden and Maarten Lafeber of Netherlands led the Portugal Masters after shooting 64s in the first round.

Karlsson and Edfors had bogey-free rounds, while Maarten had six birdies over his last nine holes to help atone for an earlier double bogey.

Alexander Noren of Sweden was one shot back in fourth, tied with Mikko Ilonen. The Finn was the only afternoon starter among the top five.

European Ryder Cup team member Edoardo Molinari, another late starter, shot a 4-under 68.

Iskandar Johor Open

JOHOR BAHRU, Malaysia (AP) - Padraig Harrington of Ireland had two eagles on the last three holes to shoot an 8-under 64 and take the first-round lead at the Iskandar Johor Open.

Harrington opened his round with three straight birdies. He finished with eagles on the 16th and 18th to tie Marcus Both of Australia and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand at the Asian Tour event.

Harrington drove the green on the par-4, 314-yard 16th hole and sank an 18-foot eagle putt. He then made a 25-footer at the par-5, 18th despite gusty winds that greeted players in the afternoon.