Green 'all over the map' with 70

She took an unconventional route to trail the leader by four strokes.
By KURT SNYDER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
VIENNA -- Tammie Green did not take the most conventional way to shoot a first-round 70 Friday at the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club.
But when she rolled in her birdie putt on her finishing hole, a 2-under par 70 was exactly what she had to place her four shots behind Gloria Park.
"It was just a different type of day," Green said.
Green, the tournament champion in 1994 and 1997 and a native of Somerset, started her round on the back nine and made 10 pars.
She was 2-over after nine holes and remained there until she birdied four and got an eagle on the par-5 No. 5 hole.
"I was all over the map," Green said. "I had a four putt, a three putt. Then I eagled one of the par-5s. I actually putted in from the fringe on four."
In the rough
Green birdied the seventh hole to put her at 2-under, but she was unable to get out of the left rough with her third shot on the par-5 eighth hole where she left with bogey.
Undeterred, she came back for the birdie on the par-3 ninth to close out the round.
"I actually was playing pretty well most of the day," Green said. "I just had a couple -- I think it's concentration with me more than anything.
"To finish like this and ram it in the back of the cup, it's nice, and the crowd loves it," Green said. "It gives a good feeling going home."
Green said she was happy her round put her among the leaders even though her round had some low moments.
"I feel like I didn't let myself out of it, and to have a good round tomorrow, I will really be in contention."
Triple-bogey
The afternoon for defending champion Rachel Teske took a down turn at the par-3 15th hole. She took a triple-bogey on the hole dropping her from even par to 3-over.
Teske bounced back to birdie the 16th hole but bogeyed the 18th hole to finish 3-over.
"I actually played really well today," Teske said. "I'm extremely disappointed I tripled 15. That was it."
Teske said it was fun returning to Squaw Creek where she won last year's tournament in a four-way playoff.
"There is more excitement definitely," she said. "I have a lot of good memories."
ksnyder@vindy.com