Bowie leads State Farm by a stroke

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Heather Bowie chipped in for an eagle and had a bogey-free 7-under 65 Thursday to take a one-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA State Farm Classic.

Bowie, who missed the U.S. Solheim Cup team after finishing 12th in the standings, was at even-par when she holed a 14-foot wedge shot on the fourth hole at the Rail Golf Club. She followed with five birdies in her bid for her second career title after winning the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in July.

Sherri Turner, who missed most of last year with a shoulder injury, birdied five of her first six holes and was tied for the lead before hitting a 7-iron into the water and making a bogey at the par-3 16th. The 48-year-old Turner finished a stroke back at 6 under along with Natalie Gulbis and Tina Barrett.

Dina Ammaccapane, Jenna Daniels, Rachel Hetherington, Pat Hurst, Vikki Laing and Karrie Webb were tied at 5 under.

Defending champion Cristie Kerr, who won with a tournament-record 24 under last year, opened with a 4-under 68 and was in a group of five players three strokes back. Kerr won her sixth career title last week at the Wendy's Championship for Children, locking up the top spot on the U.S. Solheim Cup team that will face the Europeans on Sept. 9-11 in Carmel, Ind.

Bowie, a University of Texas graduate who turned 30 this year, hit every green in regulation, the key to mastering the low-scoring layout.

"When you come here, you know you know you'd better make a lot of birdies and not very many bogeys," said Bowie, a six-year veteran.

Gulbis, who has eight top-10 finishes this year but is still looking for her first win, said the fast fairways give players a chance to shoot at pins with short irons and the par-5s are reachable.

"It's probably going to be a birdie-fest and you're going to have to shoot in the 60s every round," said the 22-year-old Gulbis, also a member of the U.S. Solheim Team.

Barrett, looking for her fourth career title, said fairways hardened by a lingering drought coupled with soft greens left her with short birdie putts in her quest for another win.

"That's really why I'm still out here, trying to get one more before I retire and call it a career ... It's what kind of drives us all," said the 39-year-old Barrett, who has four top-10 finishes this year.

Turner has three career titles, but hasn't won since 1989.

"To win an event, I can't tell you what that would mean to me," Turner said.

Bowie said her low round wasn't fueled by missing out on this year's Solheim Cup. The top 10 from the points list advance, and U.S. captain Nancy Lopez used her picks to add Wendy Ward and Beth Daniel.

"No, I don't feel like I have a point to prove," Bowie said. "I don't think there is anything to prove."