Rookie Taylor had early lead, fires 69 to lag by 3 strokes

The Aussie is one of 24 rookies in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic.
By KURT SNYDER
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
VIENNA -- A lot has been made of the lack of top money winners playing at this weekend's Giant Eagle LPGA Classic at Squaw Creek Country Club.
Their absence has opened the door for 24 rookies to make a name for themselves.
Nadina Taylor, a rookie from Australia, set the tone early as she briefly took the lead during the middle of the morning rounds.
Taylor birdied four of the first 13 holes and held the lead at 4-under par until she bogeyed the 18th hole to finish with a three-under 69.
She trails first-round leader Gloria Park by three strokes.
"Driving really well, just a good day of ball striking, and I was happy with the way it started," said the 25-year old Taylor.
Taylor ranks sixth in the rookie of the year standings, and finished tied for seventh earlier this year at the Sybase Classic.
Attitude she's taking
Taylor said she must not underestimate the competition even though the so-called big names are not competing.
"When I first got here there were some girls that I have never heard of, and they are really great players," Taylor said. "It's still a strong field as far as I'm concerned."
Several other rookies made runs at the leaders during the afternoon.
Isabelle Beisiegel had her score up to 3-under through 15 holes before falling back to 2-under. She is fifth in the rookie standings and has made her last eight cuts.
After shooting even through 10 holes, Laura Myerscough birdied back-to-back holes to push her score to 2-under as well.
Myerscough, an All-American in 2002 at the University of Arizona, has made two of her last three cuts and finished in a tie for 48th last week at the BMO Financial Canadian Open.
Even-par score good
She gave back two strokes down the stretch to finish an even-par 72, but she said she thought before the round that an even-par score would be good.
"I feel like I played solid," Myerscough said. "I had a few hiccups coming in, but my caddie and I were talking about at the beginning of the day like even par in the afternoon with the greens so bumpy would be a good round."
Rookie Kelly Lagedrost had her score up to -under after 11 holes, but also fell back down the stretch.
Despite bogeying three holes in her back nine, Lagedrost said she still felt in good shape for making a good run in the weekend.
"I left some out there -- two three putts," she said. "I feel good about tomorrow. I'm glad I'm in the morning and just get a good round in and see what happens."
ksnyder@vindy.com