Ireland's Denis O'Sullivan is just one shot off the pace after the first round of the PGA Seniors Open at Bad Ragaz in Switzerland. O'Sullivan shot a three-under-par 67 to trail leaders Noel Ratcliffe and John Grace of America. Ratcliffe opened with nine consecutive pars going out in 35, before letting loose with four birdies in a closing nine of 31.
Waterville's Liam Higgins opened with a two-under-par 68 with Eddie Polland on 70 and Ray Kane on 71.
Peter Lawrie is nine shots behind runaway leader Pehr Magnebrant from Sweden, who added a 67 to his opening 65 for a 12-under-par tally of 132 in the Finnish masters in Helsinki.
Lawrie added a 69 to his opening round of 72 for a halfway total of 141 while David Higgins is a shot further back after a second round 70. Rookie Diana D'Alessio was the unlikely leader after Thursday's first round of the $1.2 million du Maurier Classic, the final major championship of the season on the LPGA Tour.
Despite missing the cut in each of her four previous tournaments, D'Alessio fired a five-under-par 67 at the Royal Ottawa Golf Club to grab a two-stroke lead over a star-studded quintet.
Three-time Player of the Year Annika Sorenstam of Sweden, 1998 Rookie of the Year Pak Se Ri of South Korea, former U.S. collegiate champion Marisa Baena, Kristi Albers and Tracy Hanson shot three-under 69s to share second place.
Defending champion Karrie Webb shot a 71 as she tries to become the first player to win three major titles in one season.
Yorkshire's Rachel Bell (18), let off the hook by Laura Wells from Dumfries in the quarterfinals, celebrated her escape by charging through to this morning's 18-hole final of the British girls golf championship over the Rosemount course at Blairgowrie.
Bell fired an eight-birdie barrage to shoot down the high-flying 16year-old Parisienne, Audrey Riguelle, 5 and 3 in the afternoon semi-final. Rachel will play top qualifier, Tullia Calzavarra from Venice (16), for the title.
