Webb Aims Low and Is on Target at British

Karrie Webb delivered another strong round Friday, a two-under 70 that kept her three strokes ahead halfway through the Women’s British Open at Sunningdale, England.

“I tried not to look at the scoreboards too much because I wanted to play for another low score rather than play just to keep the lead,” said Webb, who shot a 65 in the first round.

Scotland’s Kathryn Marshall birdied the 18th from a bunker to join England’s Trish Johnson in a tie for second.

Webb, an Australian who won the tournament in her first year as a professional two years ago, has only one bogey in her first 36 holes and is at nine-under 135.

Marshall had six birdies in a 68 and is at 138 with Johnson.

U.S. Open champion Alison Nicholas of Britain missed the cut after rounds of 75 and 74. It was the first time she had missed the cut at the British Open, which she won in 1987.

Also missing the cut, with rounds of 77 and 79, was Nancy Lopez. She slipped on a wet log while playing the 10th and hurt her knee and arm trying to break her fall. She continued playing and had five bogeys on the back nine.

Webb opened the day with a birdie on the par-five first. She parred the next nine holes before her second birdie of the day, on the par-four 12th, took her to nine under.

Barbara Mucha of the United States kept her chances alive with a 67 and is four strokes behind Webb.

Defending champion Emilee Klein had three successive bogeys beginning at the fourth to finish 69-74--143.

Britain’s Laura Davies had four bogeys on the back nine for a 74-73--147.

*

Senior tour rookies Bob Duval and John Morgan were atop the leaderboard after the opening round of the First of America Classic in Ada, Mich.

Duval, who joined the tour on his 50th birthday in October 1996, and Morgan, 53, an Englishman who joined the tour this season, shot four-under 68s in windy conditions at Egypt Valley Country Club to lead four players by a stroke.

Duval of Neptune Beach, Fla., who never played on the PGA Tour but whose son David currently does, had three birdies and one eagle.