Leaderboard crowded at Wegmans LPGA tourney

Japan's Ai Miyazato, celebrating her 23rd birthday, shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to join Cristie Kerr and five South Korean players atop the crowded leaderboard at the Wegmans LPGA.

"I think it was a good start to my birthday. I want to win a tournament this year," said Miyazato, one of the biggest female stars in Japanese sports history, but winless in 56 career starts on the LPGA Tour.

Jeong Jang, Inbee Park, Song-Hee Kim, Jimin Jeong and Soo-Yun Kang, who holed a 9-wood shot for an ace on the 165-yard seventh hole, also shot 68s.

Kerr, a nine-time tour winner preparing for her title defense next week in the U.S. Women's Open, is especially mindful of the South Koreans' passion -- and flair.

"They're all good and they're all young. It's pretty amazing," she said.

Morgan Pressel, Becky Lucidi, Sweden's Helen Alfredsson and South Korea's Hee-Won Han, Na On Min, Kyeong Bae and Young-A Yang opened with 69s.

Defending champion Lorena Ochoa, the No. 1 player in women's golf, carded an even-par 72 in cool, blustery conditions at the tight, tree-lined Locust Hill course in Rochester, N.Y., one better than Annika Sorenstam. Michelle Wie, who is ranked 200th in the world and received a sponsor exemption, shot a 71.

PGA Tour

Johnson Wagner says he could shoot a 61 while playing the TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., on his old Sega Genesis video game as a kid.

The actual course didn't give Wagner much more of a challenge in the Travelers Championship when he shot a 6-under 64 to match Steve Lowery, Brad Adamonis and Brian Davis for the first-round lead.

With temperatures hovering in the low 70s and soft greens from rain, conditions set up nicely for the field. Seven players were a shot back at 65, and another 16 shot 66s. Of the 156 players, 104 shot under par.

Wagner, looking for his second career victory after winning in Houston earlier this season, eagled the 296-yard 15th after hitting his approach shot within 18 inches.

-- The Associated Press