July 31st, 2009 by Phil Reich PGA Golf Art

Sandra Gal of Germany shot a 3-under 69 Thursday to grab the lead after the first round of the Women's British Open. At 9:15 p.m., at the end of a round that lasted nearly six hours, Gal chipped from the greenside rough over a mound to about a foot from the flag. She escaped with a skillful par and finished a shot ahead of Angela Stanford and Song-Hee Kim, who each posted a 70 earlier.