By Alex Miceli

Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – Anna Acker-Macosko is playing in her seventh U.S. Women’s Open. 

Over her 14-year career she has not fared very well in the championship, with her best finish a tie for 15^th at the 1998 Open at Blackwolf Run G.C. What’s more, with a scoring average of 75.00 in 20 rounds Acker-Macosko has never really been in contention. But she won’t quit trying.

In her last appearance in the Open – in 2002 at Prairie Dunes C.C. -- she missed the cut. After two holes in the first round in Thursday’s first round the 36-year-old again looked to be on her way to missing the cut.

Nicole Perrot, the 2001 U.S. Girls Junior champion, shot 1-under 70 Thursday. (John Mummert/USGA)

"The first couple of holes I wasn’t really comfortable off the tee and I hit in the rough from the first hole, and that’s almost guaranteed bogey unless you can get up and down from the fairway, 100 whatever yards you are away," said Acker-Macosko of her start. "And then the second hole I didn’t hit too bad of a drive, but at that point I kind of got mad at myself. And I said, ‘Come on start swinging it at the ball.’ Getting mad at myself kind of helped and I started played pretty well from there on out."

After the poor start Acker-Macosko came right back with a birdie to get back to 1 over par. She then made another birdie on the par-410^th to get back to even, but bogeys on the 12^th and 18^th holes marred an otherwise round. Currently she’s tied for 22^nd at 2 over.

Acker-Macosko’s maturity kept her focused even when things were not going well. Her understanding of the course was part of that process.

"I try not to think about it too much, stay in the present as much as possible, but it always lingers in the back of your mind," said Acker-Macosko. "There are a couple of holes out here that are very tough and some that a little more forgiving that you can have a chance to have a couple wedges into the green. So you always have a chance."

A good showing this week would be the highlight of her season so far.  Out of 11 events on the LPGA Tour, Acker-Macosko has only made four cuts.  Her 73 in the first round was well below her LPGA scoring average of 74.89.

"I’m pleased I hung in there and didn’t make any stupid mistakes and played smart golf," she said.

Close But …

Helen Alfredsson has come close in Women’s Opens but never could finish the deal. In both 1993 and 1994 Alfredsson took the first-round lead and was in contention in both until two poor final rounds cost her victories.

In 1993 at Crooked Stick, Alfredsson opened with a 68, followed it up with a 70 in the second round and a 69 in the next to have the lead through 54-holes. But a final-round 74 allowed Lauri Merten to catch and pass Alfredsson by a shot. Alfredsson finished tied for second with Donna Andrews.

In 1994 Alfredsson opened with a 63, the lowest first-round score ever in a Women’s Open.  She followed that up with a 69, but a weekend of 76-77 forced her into a ninth-place tie.

Since 1994 Alfredsson has not finished in the top 10 and has missed the cut three times and been disqualified once. 

Alfredsson had her best opening round since 1995 Thursday, when she shot a 1-over 72. It didn’t start very easily as she bogeyed the first two holes and made the turn at 2-over-par 38 before turning it around.

"This is just a great golf course, if you can keep it in play. But the rough is as tough as I have seen them in a long, long time," she said. "I think there are few shorter holes on the front nine and the back nine are always tougher, and they should be."

Coming into this week, Alfredsson has had a poor 2005 season on the LPGA Tour, making only five cuts in 12 starts, which includes only one made cut in the last nine events.

"Yeah, with the way things have been going I’d take a one over," said Alfredsson. "You’re always greedy, but right now I would take it."

Meg Mallon’s 1-over-par 71 Thursday put her within striking distance, in 9^th place, However, it isn’t the best start by a champion. After Juli Inkster won at Old Waverly G.C. in 1999 she returned to defend her championship with an opening-round 70 at The Merit Club, which put her in a tie for fourth place. She eventually tied for 23^rd.

After her win in 2002 at Prarie Dunes, Inkster again opened strong the following year at Pumpkin Ridge, shooting a 69 and was in second place before finishing eighth.

Celebrity Sighting

The NHL’s Peter Forsberg could be seen traipsing after Annika Sorenstam’s group Thursday. The fellow Swede had wanted to see Sorenstam play, saying he was a big fan of hers.

Sorenstam, a self-admitted hockey fan, didn’t notice him until being told after her even-par day.

"He’s huge," said Sorenstam. "He’s very, very popular at home. Ice hockey is a big sport. … I am a big fan of his."

Quick Hit

Five Swedish-born players are within the top 14 on the leaderboard.

Ken Klavon contributed.