Shean and Lewis are in the clubhouse

ROGERS — University of Arkansas senior Kelli Shean and former Razorback Stacy Lewis are in the clubhouse after first round action at the 2010 P&G Beauty NW Arkansas LPGA Championship at Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Ark., Friday.

Shean was granted a sponsor’s exemption last week and is taking part in her second P&G Beauty NW Arkansas LPGA Championship. She carded a first-round three-over 74 and came into the clubhouse tied for 95th overall.

Shean, a Cape Town, South Africa, native, opened play on the back nine playing her opening half two-over. She birdied the 18th-hole to make the turn and scored her second birdie of the round on the second hole — both par 5s. She also birdied the fifth hole.

“Our par five scoring is something we work really hard on and it helped Kelli out today,” Arkansas head coach Shauna Estes-Taylor said. “I couldn’t be more proud of Kelli. She has worked so hard and the experience that she is getting at this event is priceless. She’s got some more work to do and I think she can move up the leaderboard.”

Shean shot a 212 last year making the cut in her first LPGA event.

Lewis, a two-year veteran of the LPGA Tour came off the course tied for 11th overall with a first-round 69, just three strokes behind the leader. Lewis posted birdies on four, five, 12 and 13 but gave back strokes on three and 17 finishing two-under for the round.

“Stacy is just amazing,” Estes-Taylor said. “There is no one who works harder to get better than Stacy and its so much fun to watch her and see her hard work pay off. She was a great team member and now a great mentor to our players.”

Play continues Saturday with the top players making the cut to Sunday’s final round.