AKRON, Ohio, 23 August 2003 — British Open champion Ben Curtis shot a bogey-free six-under-par 64 for a share the first-round lead with Spain’s Sergio Garcia at the World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational on Thursday.

Garcia, seeking his first win of the year while undertaking a swing change, had an eagle and five birdies in his round, including a 16-footer on the final hole to tie for the lead. Curtis is getting married today and the Firestone Country Club’s South Course is close to both his home and where he attended college.

“It was a lot of fun to play in front of family and friends,” said Curtis, who hit just seven fairways and 11 greens but was saved with a mere 23 putts. Curtis and Garcia are one stroke ahead of Tiger Woods, who won the last three NEC Invitationals on this course, and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland, who also went round without a bogey. The world No. 1 surrendered a share of the lead by missing a four-foot par putt at the 17th, but was satisfied with his day. Four Americans — David Toms, Davis Love III, Scott Verplank, and Chris Riley — were next at four-under 66, while five others, including European Tour Order of Merit leader Ernie Els, shot 67.

Scoring conditions on a hot and humid day on the par-70 course were favorable, with the greens relatively soft and the fairway fast and firm. In all, 29 of 85 players broke par.

Tway, Miller, Three Others Share Lead

In Reno, Nevada, Bob Tway beat the weather Thursday, firing a five-under 67 to grab a share of the clubhouse lead with Andy Miller and three others before rain stopped play at the Reno-Tahoe Open. Winless since 1995, Tway had five birdies on a bogey-free day.

That was the good part. He was the only player in his threesome to finish as the horn blew with Pat Perez and Richard Zokol on the 18th green.

Tway earned a share of the lead with Andy Miller, Kirk Triplett, Steve Pate and Paul Stankowski, but he wasn’t overly impressed with his standing. Miller, the son of Hall of Famer Johnny Miller, had an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.

Klein Builds Two-Shot Lead in LPGA Classic

In Kutztown, Pennsylvania, Emilee Klein built a two-shot lead Thursday after the first round of the Wachovia LPGA Classic, shooting a six-under-par 66 at Berkleigh Country Club.

Meg Mallon, Carin Koch of Sweden, Dawn Coe-Jones, and Koreans Soo-Yun Kang and Sunny Lee share second place after signing for 68s.

Hall of Famer Beth Daniel and Kelly Robbins led a group of seven players at 69.