NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y., July 25 (UPI) -- Kathryn Marshall birdied her final hole Thursday to cap a 3-under-par 68 and grab a share of the lead with Korea's Minny Yeo after the first round of the Big Apple Classic.
A 35-year-old from Scotland, Marshall had sole possession of the lead before bogeying the seventh and eighth holes -- her 16th and 17th of the day at the Wykagyl Country Club. But she lofted a sand wedge to within two feet at the par-4 ninth and made the easy putt to join the unheralded Yeo atop an impressive leaderboard.
"Yes, that was huge psychologically, a huge boost for me," Marshall said. "I'll definitely sleep better tonight. I watch the scoreboard all the time and I knew I was leading at 4-under. So it was good to come back to be joint leader after I almost let it slip away."
Yeo entered this tournament only after countrywoman Se Ri Pak withdrew. She made the most of just her ninth round on the LPGA Tour this season with five birdies and two bogeys.
Tied for third at 2-under 69 were 1999 champion Sherri Steinhauer, Kelli Kuehne, Kris Tschetter and Italy's Silvia Cavalleri.
Australia's Karrie Webb shot 1-under 70 and was part of a 10-way tie for seventh place. It was another stroke back to Sweden's Annika Sorenstam and 21 others. Sorenstam leads the LPGA Tour with six wins, $1.8 million and a 68.80 scoring average.
