Sergas, Killeen Share Lead

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Shrugging off wilting heat and pesky insects, Giulia Sergas and Denise Killeen fired six-under-par 65s Friday to share the first-round lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Killeen, 42, of Marietta, Ga., opened with six consecutive pars before posting an eagle-three on the 481-yard 16th hole and adding four birdies.

“That just kind of jump-started everything,” she said of the hole.

After that, she used precision iron play to set up short putts for birdies on Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 9, getting a good start on her goal of 18 birdies for the tournament. She did so while fighting 87-degree heat and the greenhead flies that sometimes make life miserable on the Seaview Marriott Resort course.

“If I could get through 18 holes without getting bitten by those bugs, I’d be happy,” Killeen said.

Sergas, 24, of Trieste, Italy, drilled a 20-foot putt for birdie on her first hole and added three consecutive birdies to overtake Cristie Kerr, who was one shot back..

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Michelle Wie, 14, shot a two-under-par 142 at the U.S. Men’s Public Amateur Links qualifying at Hershey, Pa., all but ending her chance to qualify for the 2005 Masters through the Publinx tournaments.