VIENNA, Ohio, July 19 (UPI) -- Kelly Robbins tied the course record with an 8-under-par 64 Friday to grab a share of the lead with Beth Bader after a marathon first round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
Looking to end a victory drought of more than 3 1/2 years, Robbins made two eagles, six birdies and two bogeys before thunderstorms and threatening weather delayed play for 2 hours, 16 minutes.
Asked how she felt to beat the weather, the 32-year-old Michigan native said, "Really good. They said this might come, it's been a threat all week."
Robbins, who has nine wins in an 11-year career, is tied with Bader, who is winless in her second year on the LPGA Tour. But Bader enjoyed the best round of her brief career, burning Squaw Creek for 10 birdies and two bogeys -- all while playing the four par-5s at 1-over.
"It's the par-5s that have been bothering me the past few weeks," said Bader, a former captain of the Iowa State golf team. "I'm a long hitter and I think I actually put too much effort into them. I think I played it smart though, but I hit it too hard. It's something I really need to figure out. To me, the par-5s should be to my advantage right now."
Danielle Ammaccapane and Korea's Mi Hyun Kim are tied for second after opening-round 65s. It's another two strokes back to 19-year-old Natalie Gulbis and Korean rookie Jung Yeon Lee.
Dorothy Delasin started her quest for an historic "three-peat" with a 3-under 69. She was among the last groups to complete play around 9 p.m. EDT.
The 21-year-old Californian is trying to become the eighth player in LPGA Tour history to post three consecutive wins at the same event. The list includes Britain's Laura Davies, who won the Standard Register PING each year from 1994-97; Sweden's Annika Sorenstam; and Australia's Karrie Webb.
This 54-hole tournament is the final American-based qualifier for the Women's British Open, the last major of the season. The top five scores from eligible players through the first two rounds will earn spots in the field for the event that begins Aug. 8 in Scotland.
