Diaz Torrid in Opening Round of Marathon Classic


Laura Diaz came out red-hot in the first round of the Marathon Classic. The $1.4 million, 72-hole LPGA Tour event began Thursday at Highland Meadows Golf Club in Sylvania, Ohio.

The 39-year-old Diaz, a two-time LPGA winner whose last victory came in the 2002 LPGA Corning Classic in her home state of New York, got off to a nice start with three birdies on the front nine, making the turn in 3-under 31 on the par-71 layout.

But on the par-37 home half, she really warmed up, posting five straight birdies on Nos. 10-14 and tacking on another birdie on the par-5 17th to come home with another 31, a 9-under 62 and a four-stroke lead over fellow American Austin Ernst and South African Lee-Anne Pace.

Diaz said she played coolly and calmly Thursday, unlike previous tournaments when she literally started shaking during competitions. "I think that I've done a lot of work on my mental game and I know better than anyone that just because you make one birdie doesn't mean you're going to make 18," the two-time LPGA winner told reporters afterward.

"It was great to get out and get five in a row. I had a six-, seven footer for six in a row. I just kept trying to hit good shots and make good putts."

Diaz admitted that the tremors have been bothersome. "Yeah, for a while I've done a lot of shaking when I start my round; today I didn't seem to be doing that." When asked whether her shakes were physical in nature, she said, "Yeah, physical shaking. Nerves, I guess. Today I was a little calmer."

Reeling off a string of birdies will relax anyone. "When the fifth one went in I laughed because it was a long putt and it went in," Diaz added. "So I kind of chuckled to myself - well, out loud.

"And then when I missed the seven-footer for birdie, I said to Pete, my caddie, 'That would've tied the most birdies in a round that I've ever had.' I didn't think about it when I was putting, but afterwards when I stepped back I said, 'Oh, that would've been six.' "

Ernst, who had five birdies, an eagle on the par-18th and two bogeys, said the course is ripe for the picking. "It's a long week," said the 22-year-old South Carolinian. "I put myself in the position I wanted to be in. You're going to have to make a lot of birdies this week. It's very scoreable. If you're hitting the ball well, you can make a lot out there."

Pace, a 33-year-old with eight victories on the Ladies European Tour, said she was spent from the travel from Royal Birkdale and the Women's British Open but was happy with her play. "To be honest, I'm a bit tired coming from the British. I haven't really been giving a lot of thought to anything. Just listen to my caddie and hit it where he tells me to hit it. It's gone great today. Hopefully I can keep doing that."

Five strokes behind Diaz are newly-crowned Women's British Open champion Mo Martin, who continued her fine play with four birdies. She's tied for fourth with Australia's Lindsey Wright, New Zealand's Lydia Ko, Americans Kaatie Burnett and Marissa Steen, and Uruguay's Mariajo Uribe.

Martin was tired too, but is still savoring the biggest victory in her career. "I'm pretty tired and still kind of feels like a dream," the Californian said. "I was joking around with the trainers saying, 'Can you massage here because my face hurts a little bit from smiling.' So still kind of surreal. But I was able to focus on my round today. Proud of that. Had a good time today."

Defending champion Beatriz Recari of Spain opened with a 70, a score matched by No. 1-ranked Stacy Lewis, who posted three birdies and a pair of bogeys. Despite not lighting the course up like Diaz, Lewis was pleased with her outing. "I finished well, which is always good," said the 29-year-old, a three-time winner this year.

"I definitely didn't have my best out there. Didn't hit the ball very good, but found a way to get the ball in the hole there at the end and made some birdies coming in to get under par, which is always a good score on this golf course."

Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie struggled for the third straight round. After posting scores of 75 and 78 to miss the 36-hole cut by three shots at Birkdale, the 24-year-old Hawaiian was doing okay for 15 holes with two birdies and a pair of bogeys. But Wie bogeyed her final three holes for a 74 and is well down the leaderboard.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.