Australian Karrie Webb was left paying the price for an overnight delay at the LPGA Championship in Wilmington, Delaware - the second major of the year.

Webb, the defending champion, had led on five under with three holes to play after bad light forced a suspension of play on Thursday.

But when she returned early on Friday, she double bogeyed the short 17th, where she found a bunker with her tee shot and then three-putted.

Veteran

She went on to make par at the last for a 68 to share second place with Sweden's Carin Koch after the Solheim Cup player birdied her last hole - the long ninth.

The pair are one shot behind veteran American Beth Daniel, who had six birdies in her round.

The 45-year-old won this title in 1990.

Catriona Matthew leads the British challenge after a 70, which included four birdies to finish on the same mark as Sweden's world number one Annika Sorenstam.

Sorenstam is chasing her fifth Tour victory of the year.

Laura Davies, a two-time former winner shot a 76 and faces a battle to make the cut.

Leading first round scores of the LPGA Championship at the Dupont Country club.
(US unless stated):

67 Beth Daniel
68 Karrie Webb (Australia), Carin Koch (Sweden)
69 Juli Inkster
70 Kelly Robbins, Michelle Estill, Karen Weiss, Annika Sorenstam (Sweden), Catriona Matthew (Britain), Betsy King, Tammie Green, Lorie Kane (Canada), Barb Mucha
71 Kim Saiki, Akiko Fukushima (Japan), Se Ri Pak (South Korea), Pat Hurst, Kelli Kuehne, Natascha Fink (Austria) Jenna Daniels, Michelle McGann
72 Ashli Burks, Natalie Gulbis, Beth Bauer, Silvia Cavalleri (Italy), Grace Park (South Korea), Rachel Teske (Australia), Leta Lindley, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Michelle Ellis (Australia), Shani Waugh (Australia).