HONOLULU, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- Carlos Franco claimed the lead and 14-year-old Michelle Wie more than held her own Thursday in the opening round of the Sony Open.
Franco shot a 7-under 63 to lead Jesper Parnevik by one in the first full-field event of the season.
Wie shot a 72 at the Waialae Country Club. Her round would have been much lower had it not been for a series of putts that barely missed the cup. Her score was better than 29 players in a field of 142.
Wie was just one shot behind Darren Clarke, British Open champ Ben Curtis and Stuart Appleby, who won last week at the Mercedes Championship and said he did not think the teen phenom would be able to break 80.
Current PGA champion Shaun Micheel posted the same score as Wie. Among those Wie bested in the opening round was Scott Hoch, the eighth leading money winner in the history of the tour.
