Murota takes
Pearl lead

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From staff and wire reports

Michelle Wie has lived in the headlines lately, but it was Kiyoshi Murota who grabbed the first-round lead of the $80,000 Hawaii Pearl Open.

He fired an opening-round 67 yesterday to hold a one-shot lead over Kazumoto Abe and Gregory Meyer who fashioned 4-under 68s. Local amateur Joe Phengsavath, who played in the Sony Open last month, and three other golfers were tied for fourth with 3-under rounds of 69.

Some 37 of the 188 competitors touring the par-72 Pearl Country Club course shot even-par 72s or better. Wie managed a 2-over 74 and finds herself in a tie for 50th entering today's second round of the 54-hole tournament that concludes tomorrow.

The 13-year-old phenom recently received an invitation to play in the LPGA's Nabsisco Championship, one of four major tournaments on that tour. She said yesterday that it doesn't really matter to her if she's playing in a tournament for men or women.

"I just want to beat someone," Wie said, "it doesn't matter who."

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Gregory Meyer pointed to the ninth green, where he needed to go yesterday. He ended up inside some hibiscus bushes after hitting his second shot over the green, and had to take a drop.

Playing from the back tees, the eighth grader from Punahou School said her goal was to finish in the top 20. Last year, she failed to make the cut in this prestigious local event with a two-day total of 154.

Wie, the youngest and only female in the field, said she was a little disappointed because of her inconsistent driving and the bee stings on her leg she suffered on No. 11.

"I got stung like five times in the same place, so I was limping," she said. "My whole leg was pretty sore after that."

The tournament was played where Wie tried to qualify for last month's Sony Open. In the Monday qualifier, Wie shot a 1-over 73 from the back tees and tied for 47th against 96 men.

Following her attempt at the Sony, Wie was featured on national television, golf magazines and sports pages across the state.

"It's really fun, I like it," she said of the media coverage. "It also pushes me harder because I think if I don't play good, all the attention will go away."

Wie outscored such local notables as Parker McLaughlin (75), 1990 United Airlines Hawaiian Open winner David Ishii (76) and Regan Lee (76).

CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@STARBULLETIN.COM Michelle Wie was short on a putt on the 10th hole.