Sun smiles on golfers as three vie for the lead

By PETE MOLLICA
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
VIENNA -- The sun shone brightly for the opening round of the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic and with it came a decent crowds and some outstanding golf Friday at Squaw Creek Country Club.
After the first four days saw much more rain than sunshine and the galleries outnumbered the players and volunteers, Mother Nature finally smiled on the tournament.
A couple of Koreans are battling for the tournament lead along with a 15-year veteran from Pinehurst, N.C.
Gloria Park, a 24-year-old in her fifth season on the LPGA, holds the first round lead after shooting a 6-under-par 66.
Young-A Yang, a 25-year-old from Seoul, is one stroke behind her countryman after fashioning a 5-under-par 67, while veteran Donna Andrews is another stroke behind following a 4-under-par 68.
This is the 15th year for this tournament in the Mahoning Valley and there is still concern whether the tournament will continue in the future.
Title sponsor Giant Eagle and Mahoning Valley Sports Charities, which owns the tournament, haven't reached an agreement on a new contract. The old one expires at the end of this tournament.
The tournament can't exist without a title sponsor, so unless Giant Eagle and MVSC come to terms or another title sponsor is found, this may be the final LPGA tournament in the Valley.
Friday's weather was near perfect, lots of sunshine and just a little wind, and the golfers took full advantage of the conditions.
"I thought the golf course was in excellent condition," Park said. "It was a lot drier than it has been the last couple of days.
While Park, Yang and Andrews are the top three after the first round, a group of three other players are deadlocked at 3-under-par 69, three shots behind the leaders.
They are Laura Diaz of Amelia Island, Fla., Marilyn Lovander of Punta Gorda, Fla., and Nadina Taylor of Melbourne, Australia.
The tournament also lost two of its top attractions. Fan favorite Dottie Pepper withdrew before her starting time because of illness. Two-time former champion Michelle McGann played nine holes and then withdrew. McGann, who won here in 1995 and 1996, is a diabetic and her withdrawal was due to her condition.
Today's action begins at 7:30 a.m. with the players all playing in their same groups, but those who played in the morning on Friday will play in the afternoon today and vice versa.
mollica@vindy.com