Nabisco Dinah Shore

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. -- Penny Hammel, her game steady despite swirling wind and rain in the afternoon, shot a 3-under-par 69 to share the opening-day lead.

Muffin Spencer-Devlin and Nanci Bowen, who teed off in the early morning, also shot 69s, getting in much of their round before the weather turned bad.

Five players were in a group two shots off the lead with first-round 71s in the tournament, the first of the LPGA's majors in 1995.

Among those struggling were defending champion Donna Andrews, who shot a 76; Beth Daniel, with a 77; Laura Davies, with a 75, and Nancy Lopez, with a 74.