Wie, Sorenstam struggle in France

Stupples finished her opening round at even-par 72, six strokes off the lead.

Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam struggled Wednesday in the opening round of the Evian Masters in Evian, France.

Wie, a 15-year-old amateur from Hawaii, shot a 3-over 75 -- nine strokes off the lead -- and said she had "bad breaks everywhere."

Sorenstam, winner of two majors this year, shot an even-par 72.

Dalhousie touring pro Karen Stupples, who finished fourth in last year's tournament, also shot an even-par 72.

Lynette Brooky of New Zealand, Colombia's Marisa Baena and Sweden's Carin Koch were tied for the lead at 6-under 66. Paula Creamer, Becky Brewerton and Christina Kim were two strokes back.

Defending champion Wendy Doolan shot a 43 on the back nine and finished with an 80.

Wie, who reached the quarterfinals last week in the men's U.S. Amateur Public Links, hit only two fairways Wednesday. She had only two birdies, with the second coming at the 18th.

U.S. Junior Amateur

Arnold Palmer's 17-year-old grandson, Sam Saunders, and defending champion Sihwan Kim won their opening matches Wednesday to advance at the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Saunders, of Windemere, Fla., was 4 under through 13 holes and beat Benjamin Blundell of Rowlett, Texas, 6 and 5. Saunders will face Kevin Tway, the son of PGA Tour player Bob Tway, in Thursday's second round at Longmeadow Country Club in Longmeadow, Mass.

The top nine seeded players advanced.

The second and third rounds will be played today. The quarterfinals and semifinals are scheduled for Friday, with the 36-hole final Saturday.

PGA Tour

Kevin Hall will make his PGA Tour debut today after getting a sponsor's exemption to play in the US Bank Championship at Brown Deer Park in Milwaukee.

Hall has been deaf since a bout of meningitis stole his hearing when he was a toddler. The PGA Tour couldn't find any other instances of deaf golfers in their records.

Hall, 22, communicates with his caddie and playing partners by reading lips, writing in a notebook or typing into his Sidekick, which combines a phone with e-mail, instant messaging, Web-surfing, a digital camera, a personal organizer and games.

-- From staff, wire reports