The Associated Press

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Mi-Hyun Kim had the hot putter Thursday in the LPGA Big Apple Classic. Suzy Whaley had the fans' support.

Kim made four birdie putts of 15 feet or longer in a 5-under-par 66 that gave her a one-stroke lead over Liz Earley and Silvia Cavalleri with eight players another shot back.

But it was Whaley's 69 that drew the most attention at Wykagyl Country Club.

The 36-year-old teaching pro from Avon, Conn., qualified in September for next week's Greater Hartford Open on the PGA Tour. She's using a sponsor's exemption at this LPGA event to get ready for her matchup with the men.

Even the announcer at the first tee got into the day's theme when he introduced Whaley.

"Let's have a warm welcome and best wishes for next week for Suzy Whaley," he said, bringing cheers, whistles and quite a bit of applause.

Whaley, who will play in a PGA event two months after Annika Sorenstam competed in the Colonial, said the support didn't stop there.

"Everyone was wishing me luck. I heard a lot of 'You go, girl,' " she said, laughing. "You can never hear that enough. I play better with people getting involved. I like to interact with the crowd."

No one knows what kind of reception Whaley will receive next Thursday at the TPC at River Highlands, a course that has consumed her thoughts since September.

"This was the first day I didn't think about the TPC. I stayed here," she said. "I stayed at this course every shot.

"I'm ready to go play there. I'm looking forward to it. I'm excited about it, but I have to stay patient and let it get here."

This is the fourth LPGA event this year for Whaley, who played on the tour for a couple of years in the early 1990s. She missed two cuts and tied for 50th in her other starts.

Kim, who hasn't missed a cut since June 2001, said she feels better after battling stomach problems since the Corning Classic in May.

"I don't care about making the cut, I care about finishing in the top 10 or top five," said Kim, 30th or higher in four of the six tournaments since Corning.

PGA: Steve Lowery shot an 8-under 64 and held a two-shot lead after the first round of the B.C. Open at Endicott, N.Y.

Lowery, who missed eight cuts and had two withdrawals in 18 events this year, led Barry Cheesman, John Maginnes, Alex Cejka and Harrison Frazar.

Senior Players Championship winner Craig Stadler, 19-year-old Ty Tryon and Nationwide Tour player Jim McGovern were among 15 another shot back at 5 under.