Rio Grande, Puerto Rico (Oct. 20) – Canada, spurred by a championship record low round of 67 from Mary Ann Lapointe, took the first-day lead at the 2004 Women's World Amateur Team Championship by two strokes over the USA and by five over Korea at Rio Mar Country Club.

Playing on the 5,956-yard, par-72 River Course, the Canadians used Lapointe's 5-under-par 67 and Laura Matthews' 70 for a team score of 137, which is also the lowest in championship history, breaking the mark of 139 shot by Thailand in 2002.

Canada's Mary Ann Lapointe reacts to a putt during her record-setting 67 at Rio Mar CC's River Course. (John Mummert/USGA)

“We had a very good day of team play,” said Canadian captain Jackie Little. “That's the best we could wish for.”

Lapointe, a four-time Canadian Women's Amateur champion, shot a bogey-free round which included five birdies. It is the lowest first round in the history of the championship, one stroke better than the 68 shot on three previous occasions. “I was steady and hit fairways and greens,” said Lapointe.

“It's a good thing,” said the seven-time WATC competitor of holding the team lead . “If you asked me if we'd take the lead at 7-under when we started, I'd have said, ‘Yeah.’ ”

The California trio from the USA posted a 5-under-par 139. Jane Park of Rancho Cucamonga, the reigning U.S. Women's Amateur champion, shot a 3-under-69 and was followed by Paula Creamer of Pleasanton and Sarah Huarte of Shingle Springs, who registered 2-under 70s. All three were members of the winning USA Curtis Cup team from earlier this year.

“Our approach shots were hit wonderfully but we couldn't get the putts to fall,” said USA captain Cora Jane Blanchard. “When the putts start going in, watch out!”

While the USA felt that putting kept it from lower scores, all three players were steadfast in their aggressive approach.

"I always play aggressively,” said Creamer. “If the shot is there, I take it.”

Paula Creamer of the USA recovers from a greenside bunker. (John Mummert/USGA)

Korea, also playing the River Course, stood in third with a score of 2-under-par 142 based on a 70 from Hee Young Park and a 72 from Soo Young Yoo.

“We had too much pressure on us because of the first day,” said Park of Korea. “Our second shots were good but not our drives.”

"We have many star players from Korea,” said Dong Wook Kim, the Korean captain. “We try to play like them. (Wednesday), we were close.”

Following Korea was Chinese Taipei in fourth at 143, and then Germany, Spain and Sweden in joint fifth at 144. Defending champion Australia was tied for 22nd position at 152.

For complete results, visit www.internationalgolffederation.org and click on the Golfstat icon.

Play was suspended at 3:05 p.m. because of dangerous weather conditions and resumed at 3:58 p.m.

Conducted by the International Golf Federation, which comprises national governing bodies of golf in more than 100 countries, the Women's World Amateur Team Championship is a biennial international amateur competition, which is rotated among three geographic zones: Asia-Pacific, American and European-African.

Each team, which has two or three players, plays 18 holes of stroke play for four days. In each round, the total of the two lowest scores by players from each team constitutes the team score for the round. The four-day (72 holes) total is the team's score for the championship.

Story written by Pete Kowalski, manager of media relations for the USGA. E-mail him with questions or comments at pkowalski@usga.org.

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico – Results of Wednesday's (Oct. 20) first round of the Women's World Amateur Team Championship, played at Rio Mar Country Club (Ocean Course=1: par 36-36—72, 6,159 yards, 5,629 meters; River Course=2: par 36-36—72, 5,956 yards, 5,444 meters):