Matthew six shots off pace

NORTH BERWICK'S Catriona Matthew was six shots off the lead after an opening level-par 72 in the first round of the women's McDonald's LPGA Championship at Bulle Rock in Maryland.

Canada's Lorie Kane and little-known American, Emily Bastel, shared the lead on 66. Both players had flawless six-birdie rounds and finished one ahead of the Kent-born Australian, Lindsey Wright.

Swede Maria Hjorth, a graduate of Stirling University, was in a large group in share of fourth place on 68, while Kent's Karen Stupples had a 71 and was the only British player to break par.

World No.1 Lorena Ochoa, who won the Ricoh Women's British Open at St Andrews last year, began her bid for a third successive major with a five-birdie 69, while Sweden's Annika Sorenstam, in her final season before retirement, opened with a 70.

Matthew, who was joint tenth last year, birdied the third and eighth, but dropped shots at the sixth and ninth before making par at every hole on the back nine.

Mhairi McKay, the other Scot in the field, hit a 75.