FOCUS ON US SENIOR LADY PROS AT FRENCH LICK

JONES AND GRIMES SHARE LEAD IN US 

LEGENDS CHAMPIONSHIP

FRENCH LICK, Indiana – Rosie Jones and Lisa Grimes are co-leaders after the first round of The Legends Championship, each carding rounds of 3-under 69 to move to the top of the leaderboard.

Only three other players bettered par in the opening round of the $500,000 championship, staged at the Pete Dye Course at French Lick Resort.

LPGA Tour veteran Barb Mucha is one stroke off the lead at 2-under 70, followed by Danielle Ammaccapane and last year’s runner-up Laurie Rinker, who are tied at one-under 71.

``Any time you play this golf course under par you’ve got to feel good about yourself,’’ said Jones, who won last week’s Wendy’s Charity Challenge tournament in Jackson, Mich. ``I’m feeling confident about my game. My ball-striking is as good as it’s been in the last couple years.’’

Grimes, a former LPGA Tour player who now works as a teaching professional in Arizona, added that she was pleased to score well in this week’s championship.

``Teaching is my passion, but I still enjoy playing,’’ said Grimes, who has won the Minnesota Women’s Open several times and who has finished in the top-10 in two of her three previous appearances on the Legends Tour.

Jones had Grimes as a target all day and caught her, thanks to a hot front nine. Jones fell out of the lead with a three-putt bogey at No. 10, but regained a share of the lead with an eight-foot downhill birdie putt at No. 13.

Defending champion Lorie Kane of Canada struggled today with a round of 3-over 75.

LPGA Hall of Famer Pat Bradley withdrew from the event, citing illness.

Play resumes at 8 a.m. Saturday when Friday's starters will be joined by six Super Seniors, who will play their own 36-hole competition.  Jane Blalock, CEO of the Legends Tour, won last year’s Super Seniors event and hopes to defend her title after being inducted into the Legends Tour’s Hall of Fame last week.

For complete scores, visit: http://leaderboard.thelegendstour.com