McCurdy at plus-10 after the first round

FAYETTEVILLE – The weather finally cleared and players took to the course for the 61st U.S. Women’s Open in Newport, R.I., Friday. Former University of Arkansas Lady Razorback Amanda McCurdy was among the 156 golfers in the field on the par 71, 6,554-yard Newport Country Club Course firing a first-round 81 Friday. McCurdy, who finished tied for 38th in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open, struggled through the first nine with five consecutive bogeys and seven bogeys in her first nine holes. But she made the turn to the front nine with back-to-back pars and began to settle into the course. A bogey on the third hole was followed by a pair of pars but a double on six again saw her score climb. McCurdy finished with pars on seven and eight but bogeyed her final hole, No. 9, to finish at plus-10. She is tied for 145 after the first round. Four players, including amateur Jane Park, are a top the leaderboard with two-under 69s after the first round. Joining Park is Se Ri Pak, Pat Hurst and Annika Sorenstam at 69. Five others are tied for second at one-under. Stroke play continues Saturday with the top 60 scores or all scores within 10 strokes of the leader, advancing to the 36-hole final on Sunday. For more information about McCurdy or Arkansas golf, log on to LADYBACKS.COM.