EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France » Becky Brewerton shot a 5-under 67 and was tied for the first-round lead at the Evian Masters yesterday, while Michelle Wie rescued a disappointing start with two late birdies.

The South Korean duo of Na Yeon Choi and In-Kyung Kim also shot 67s in windy and overcast conditions that forced play to be suspended for one hour because of late-afternoon thunder.

Wie, a Punahou graduate, bogeyed Nos. No. 3, 6 and 13 before birdies on the last two holes for a 73. She had plenty of players between her and the lead, including defending champion Helen Alfredsson of Sweden, who is chasing her fourth Evian title and had four birdies in her round of 70.

The 19-year-old Wie, who is bidding for a Solheim Cup spot for the U.S. team, missed an easy par putt on the sixth hole, but recovered to end the day on a high note.

“;I couldn't get anything going, couldn't make any putts,”; Wie said. “;(I have) three more days to make it up. (Holes) 17 and 18 were a real positive boost for tomorrow.”;

She needs a big improvement if she is to collect any points for the Solheim Cup. Wie is in 16th place on the list, with the top 10 getting automatic spots on captain Beth Daniel's team.

“;For sure, you definitely do want to play in it. But when I'm out there I can't think of (the Solheim Cup),”; said Wie, who can also earn points at next week's British Open, or hope to get one of two wild-card picks.

Watson trails Senior British

Four days after his heart-rending playoff defeat to Stewart Cink at Turnberry, Tom Watson shot a 3-under 67 yesterday to begin his pursuit of a fourth Senior British Open title.

The 59-year-old Watson, who almost became the oldest major champion at the British Open last weekend, was three shots behind leader Fred Funk.

Na leads Canadian by two

Kevin Na birdied the final five holes and nine of his last 12 for a 9-under 63 and a two-stroke lead over Retief Goosen, Scott Verplank and Joe Durant during the suspended first round.

Castle graduate Dean Wilson is tied for fifth with a 68.

Fujikawa in fourth at Cox

Moanalua graduate Tadd Fujikawa is tied for fourth place after the opening round of the Nationwide Tour's Cox Classic.

The 18-year-old pro had seven birdies in a 10-hole stretch on the way to a 7-under-par 64.

Fujikawa is three shots behind leader Garth Mulroy.