Webb and Alex share first round lead at U.S. Women's Open

Karrie Webb might just be the most decorated player at the 2015 U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster Country Club. The Aussie owns 41 career LPGA Tour victories, including two consecutive U.S. Open wins in 2000 and 2001, and is one of two LPGA Hall of Famers in the 156-player field.

Halfway through the first round of play, Webb is tied for first with Marina Alex at 4-under-par 66. The last time that Webb walked off the course at the Open with a score in the 60's, she also walked away with the trophy. Back in 2001, Webb clinched her second consecutive title with a 69 on the final round of play.

"I hadn't thought about it," she said. "But it's a good sign."

Webb opened her round in consistent fashion, shooting par on her first ten holes. "I had some good looks on the back nine, which was my first nine, and didn't get anything to go," she said.

Webb broke into red numbers after a well-placed iron shot on the second hole and shot three more birdies at holes four, six and eight to finish the front nine holes four under par.

Of the 78 players who teed off in the morning 11 broke par 70 and another six matched par. Although the course has a maximum yardage of 6,483 yards, it was set up to play at 6,353 for the first round mainly due to the wet conditions.

Alex, the co-leader after 18 holes, last played in a U.S. Women's Open in 2009 when it was held at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem. She said her game is completely different now from what it was back then, when she shot rounds of 82 and 78 and missed the cut.

Amy Yang of South Korea was alone in third place at 67.

Morgan Pressel, one of six players tied at 68 after the morning wave, had reached 4-under par after making a birdie at the par-4 fifth hole, her 14th of the day. But she bogeyed the seventh and eighth holes to fall back.

Lydia Ko, the No. 2-ranked player in the world, stood at 3-under after seven holes following birdies at the first, sixth and seventh, but gave a shot back at the tough par-3 eighth and finished the front nine at 2-under. A run of three bogeys on her final eight holes left her with a 70.

Defending champion Michelle Wie sank back-to-back birdie putts at the sixth and seventh holes to move to 1-under but she did not make another birdie the rest of the day. She bogeyed 8, 10 and 18 and finished with a 2-over 72.

At the time of writing, Inbee Park, currently the top-ranked player in the world, sits at even par after seven holes of play. Park started her round with three confident pars on the first three holes before bogeying the fourth but got the shot back with a 6-foot birdie putt at No. 7.

More rain fell in the area around dawn Thursday, making an already-soaked course even longer. Despite that, there have been quite a few subpar scores in the early action.

Megan Khang, a 17-year-old high school senior from Rockland, Mass., got to 4-under on the front nine of her round but bogeyed Nos. 9, 11 and 14 to fall back.

--Laine Higgins