Other golf stories in brief

Pavin hits the birdie trail early to claim lead

US TOUR:American Corey Pavin fired an error-free eight-under-par 64 yesterday to grab the early first-round lead at the Buick Open.

The former US Open champion began his day with four pars in a row before reeling off six birdies in eight holes to rocket up the leaderboard.

One shot back on 65 was compatriot Briny Baird, who also enjoyed a bogey-free day at a steamy Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club.

Japan's Shigeki Maruyama, Briton Kenneth Ferrie and American Woody Austin were one stroke further adrift on six-under.

American Jim Furyk, the 2003 champion and the highest-ranked player in the field at number 12, opened with a 68. It was Furyks 38th consecutive sub-par round at Warwick Hills where he has seven successive top-10 finishes.

Rocco Mediate, beaten by Tiger Woods in a play-off at the US Open earlier this month, struggled to a one-under 71 in his first competitive round since Torrey Pines.

CHALLENGE TOUR:A first competitive hole-in-one on his maiden appearance in a professional tournament helped 19-year-old amateur Jamie Byrne to a round of 66 and the lead on day one of the Scottish Challenge.

The young Scot has fond memories of Macdonald Cardrona Hotel Golf and Country Club, having won the Scottish Boys Strokeplay Championship there in similarly treacherous conditions last year.

And despite betraying some initial nerves with a hooked drive off the first tee, the boy from Banchory - who is in the first year of a scholarship at Arizona State University in America - subsequently belied his tender years with a flawless round of golf which saw him grab the lead on five under par, one-shot clear of fellow Scot Chris Doak.

The highlight of the youngster's round came at the 13th, where he struck a seven iron 190 yards for his first hole-in-one. Byrne said: "The wind had changed, because on the 12th it was into our faces. Then when we got onto the 13th tee, it was behind us. I was first to hit, so I didn't know which club to use. I just hit my seven iron and hoped for the best. It landed just the other side of the bunker, but I had no idea where it had ended up. I thought it would be about five or six feet away, but then when I got onto the green my ball wasn't there. So I had a look in the hole, and there it was!"

Doak's day was perhaps less dramatic, but seven birdies and four bogeys helped him to a round of 67.

The Scot, a six-time winner on his national Tartan Tour this season, said: "This has to be some of the best golf of my career. I wouldn't say I'm finding it easy exactly, but I am swinging really well at the minute, and getting my rewards."

Doak was joined on four under par by Sweden's Klas Eriksson, who dropped just one shot en route to his round of 67.

Michael Hoey is best of the Irish on 70 with David Higgins one back on 71. Michael McGeady and Colm Moriarty are both on 75.

LPGA TOUR:South Korean teenager Oh Ji-young upstaged the game's biggest names to grab an early two-shot lead in the US Women's Open first round yesterday.

In mainly overcast conditions at Interlachen Country Club, the 19-year-old delivered a master-class on approach play to shoot a six-under-par 67.

Swede Louise Friberg and Colombian amateur Maria Jose Uribe carded 69s, one ahead of Britons Laura Davies and Catriona Matthew and Sweden's Helen Alfredsson.

World number one Lorena Ochoa, seeking her third major victory in four starts, opened with a 73 but American teenager Michelle Wie slumped to an 81.

Oh, who missed the cut on her debut last year, piled up seven birdies and one bogey in calm weather, signing off with a six-footer to birdie her final hole.

"My favourite clubs are the driver and short irons and I hit my approach shots very close on many holes today," said the Korean.

"I had several birdie putts from one or two feet and my longest was a 12-footer at the 17th. I played very well."