Golf | Kenny Perry fires 61 for two-shot lead in Connecticut

CROMWELL, Conn. — Kenny Perry shot a 61 to tie the course record and take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Travelers Championship on Thursday.

Perry, who has finished in the top 10 seven times at this tournament, shot a 29 on the front nine and had no bogeys. He flirted with a 59, before making par on the final two holes.

"I was looking for that magical number," Perry said. "I thought I could do it today. It was definitely in the back of my head. I was definitely trying to get it done."

Over 100 golfers shot under par, taking advantage of light winds and the soft greens left by the same rains that plagued the U.S. Open.

Charles Warren and Paul Goydos each shot 7-under-par 63s to tie for second place. They also played bogey-free rounds. Goydos had birdies on three of his final four holes, while Warren putted for birdie 16 times.

"Whoever the superintendent is has done an unbelievable job getting the golf course ready given the amount of rain you've had," Warren said. "So I think there will be low rounds all week. ... I think 59 is a possibility."

Australian Greg Chalmers had eight birdies, six over his final eight holes, and finished tied at 6 under with Spencer Levin, Boo Weekley and Tag Ridings.

Ridings had the shot of the day, acing the par-3 11th hole. He used a 9-iron from 154 yards out.

U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover was among nine golfers tied at 5 under.

Ryan Moore of Puyallup was at 4-under 66. Kirk Triplett, a graduate of Pullman High School, shot a 69. Ex-Husky Troy Kelly shot a 76.

Perry is the fifth player to post a 61 at TPC River Highlands, joining Triplett (2000), Phil Mickelson (2001), Scott Verplank (2001) and Brad Faxon (2005) in the record book.

Gal's 64 leads LPGA event

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Germany's Sandra Gal kept loose over a game of chess during a rain delay and shot an 8-under 64 to lead Jiyai Shin by one stroke before darkness suspended first-round play at the Wegmans LPGA.

An afternoon storm packing hail, lightning and torrential rain interrupted the tournament for three hours at the tree-lined Locust Hill course in suburban Rochester. Poor light then ended play with 30 players unable to finish their round.

Becky Lucidi was in third place at 6 under through 15 holes. Kristy McPherson and Michele Redman were tied for fourth place with 5-under 67s. Tiger Woods' 18-year-old niece, Cheyenne, carded a 75 in her pro-tour debut, which came courtesy of a sponsor exemption.

Michelle Wie shot a 69.

Wendy Ward, who lives near Edwall, outside Spokane, shot a 70. Jimin Kang, a graduate of King's High School in Shoreline, had a 73. Former Husky Paige Mackenzie was 1 over through 16 holes. Ex-Husky Louise Friberg shot a 76.

Other event

• Retief Goosen of South Africa shot an 8-under 64 to lead by two shots after the first round of the rainy BMW International Open in Munich.