Park Leads As Darkness Falls

Thursday, June 28th 2007, 8:20 pm

By: News On 6

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (AP) _ Eighteen-year-old LPGA Tour rookie Angela Park birdied her first three holes and hung on for a 3-under 68 to give her in the lead in the first round of the rain-delayed U.S. Women's Open.

Park also was tied for the lead at the LPGA Championship after one round, eventually finishing fifth.

A three and a-half hour rain delay prevented 78 players from finishing the round. They'll get an early start on Friday.

Three players were at 2-under at various points on Pine Needles. In-Bee Park is through 16 holes, Jee Young Lee played 12 and Karine Icher got ten holes in.

Defending champion Annika Sorenstam was at even par through 13 holes.

Seventeen-year-old Michelle Wie continued her free fall. She shot an 82 although she said afterward it's a ``very fine line between shooting 69 and shooting what I shot today.''