Lewis Starts Strong Again Despite Rain

Lewis birdied three of her first four holes Friday, then held on for a 3-under-par 69 at the LPGA Tour's NW Arkansas Championship. Rain again caused problems at the event, which was called off after 18 holes last September with Lewis leading.

Lewis couldn't continue her early run, but the former University of Arkansas star was just a stroke behind clubhouse leader Soo-Yun Kang late in the afternoon. Seon-Hwa Lee was still out on the course at 7 under as players scrambled to finish their rounds following a delay of about five hours.

Lewis shot a first-round 65 last year as an amateur, but she didn't get credit for a victory. The event was shortened from 54 holes to 18 after heavy rain.

Friday began in similar fashion at Pinnacle Country Club. It rained hard in the area early in the morning, and the fairway below the 18th green was flooded after a water hazard overflowed.

The sun came out in the afternoon, and the prospects for the rest of the weekend appear more promising than last year.

With a gallery of around 200 cheering for her on Friday, Lewis started strong with birdies on Nos. 1, 3 and 4.

· CHAMPIONS TOUR: Joe Ozaki was so pumped after the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y., he didn't mind doing most of the talking in his halting English. Then again, there was no alternative.

Ozaki shot a 9-under 63 on Friday, his low in three years on the Champions Tour, to gain a two-shot lead over Argentina's Eduardo Romero.

"Very, very well today," Ozaki said with a big smile. "Perfect. Greens perfect. Easy to stop. Between the trees, no problem."

Joey Sindelar, Ronnie Black, and Fulton Allem were tied for third at 66, while John Harris, Des Smyth, Bobby Wadkins, and Morris Hatalsky were another shot back.