U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN Teens among early leaders in first round

17-year-old Aree Song and 43-year-old Rosie Jones were tied at 1-under.
NORTH PLAINS, Ore. (AP) -- Hey, these kids can play.
In a clash of generations at the toughest event in women's golf, 17-year-old Aree Song made Pumpkin Ridge look like child's play with a 1-under 70 Thursday, giving her a share of the early lead at the U.S. Women's Open with 43-year-old Rosie Jones.
"Am I tied for the lead? Oh, that's nice," Song said with innocence that belies her experience, even for someone about to enter their freshman year at Florida.
This U.S. Women's Open had something for everyone -- steady play by the Thai teen, a burst of birdies from Jones and a scrambling round of 1-over 72 for Annika Sorenstam.
Song was known as Aree Wongluekiet -- her mother's Thai surname -- when she played in the final group of an LPGA major at the 2000 Nabisco Championship as a 13-year-old, winding up in a tie for 10th.
"I think my time will come," Song said.
Only now, she has company.
Song is one of 14 teens at Pumpkin Ridge, which the USGA believes is a record. Only two teenagers qualified for the men's U.S. Open at Olympia Fields last month.
Among the early starters, 18-year-old Irene Cho was at even-par 71 and a couple of others were holding their own as conditions got even tougher in the afternoon.
13-year-old playing well
Michelle Wie, 13, who also played in the final group at Nabisco this year, and 15-year-old Morgan Pressel were 1 under through four holes.
Whether they could survive a wicked Witch Hollow course remained to be seen.
While there is an extraordinary number of teenagers in the field, one constant about the U.S. Women's Open is that trouble is waiting in the lips of the bunkers, in waist-high fescue, in water hazards and anytime someone winds up on the wrong side of the hole.
Jennifer Rosales, a former NCAA champion from Southern California, was 4 under with six holes to play when she took four bogeys and a triple bogey for a 74.
Laura Diaz was at 3 under and leading with three holes left when her tee shot landed next to the lip of a bunker, forcing her to chip out. A poor 3-wood continued the spiral toward double bogey, and a bogey on the ninth left her with a 71.