Wie shoots 2-under 70 at men's tourney

INCHEON, South Korea - Michelle Wie is in position to make the cut in a men's tournament for the first time.

The 16-year-old from Hawaii shot 2-under 70 in the first round of the SK Telecom Open.

"I felt like I played good and bad," Wie said. "I felt like I made some putts where I had to. And there are a couple of more days to go, so it will get better."

Wie had four birdies and two bogeys during her eighth attempt at making the cut of a men's tournament. Australia's Adam Le Vesconte led the Asian Tour event after shooting 65.

Wie, whose parents were born in South Korea, finished third in March at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the first LPGA major. If she makes the cut after today's second round, she will be the second woman to do so at a Korean tournament. Se Ri Pak tied for 10th in 2003.

"I do not have a specific strategy, but if I hit my irons well, I'll be all right," Wie said. "I'd love to play well and put up a strong challenge. Whatever it is, I'll have a calm and cool approach to the game."

Wie birdied the opening hole, No.10, as well as Nos.1 and 2. The first of her two bogeys came when her tee shot on the par-4 17th nestled beside a rake, which had to be removed. Her approach sent the ball rolling down a hill and into a water hazard. Her penalty drop was placed on the slope, and she chipped within 2 feet.

Wie hit into a bunker on the par-5 sixth, and her 15-footer for par rolled to the lip of the cup before stopping.

PGA: Jim Furyk, Bill Haas, Trevor Immelman and Rory Sabbatini shot 4-under 68 for the first-round lead at the Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, N.C. Billy Andrade, Lucas Glover and Davis Love were one back.

Furyk, who took two weeks off after finishing second in Hilton Head, S.C., had five birdies and a bogey. Haas, father Jay and brother Jay Jr. played in the same tournament for the first time. Bill had four birdies, two bogeys and an eagle at No.5. After a bogey and double bogey on the front nine, Immelman birdied six of his final nine holes. Sabbatini birdied his first three holes and finished with seven and three bogyes. LPGA: Angela Stanford and Beth Bader shot 7-under 65 to share the first-round lead at the Franklin American Mortgage Championship in Franklin, Tenn. Grace Park was one back.

Stanford, whose lone win came in the 2003 ShopRite Classic, tied her career low by getting a bogey and eight birdies. Seven birdies came on putts of 3-8 feet, the other from 10. Bader, who has missed five cuts this year with her best finish a tie for 17th at last month's Takefuji Classic, had five birdies and an eagle. The eagle came at the par-5, 470-yard No.7, when she hit a 3-wood to 10 feet.

Seminole's Brittany Lincicome shot 69 and is tied for 17th. Tampa's Beth Bauer shot 79. EUROPEAN PGA: Soren Kjeldsen matched a course record by shooting 9-under 63 in the first round of the Italian Open in Milan. Kjeldsen, who led Ben Barham by two, had nine birdies to tie Richard Finch's record set last year.

Part-time bay area resident shoots his age, wins round with Palmer

Bud Chapman, 83, who spends his winters in Treasure Island, shot 73 to win the preliminary round of the Shoot Your Age Championship and a round with Arnold Palmer at The Villages.

Saturday, Chapman will be paired with Palmer, 76, and Joe Cheves, 87, of Morganton, N.C., who shot 81 for second. They will play at Arnold Palmer Legends Country Club, a 6,500-yard course located about 25 miles south of Ocala near Lady Lake. Like Thursday, the winner will be determined by the lowest score in relation to age.

Christy Mosteferis, 83, of Niceville shot 81 and Kermit Dannehl, 86, of Phoenix 85 to finish third and fourth and win a round with Gary Player.

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