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Shin and Ji secure lead in Women's World Cup of Golf

South Korea's Shin Ji-yai and Ji Eun-hee shot an 11-under 61 on Friday to take a 1-stroke lead after the first round of the Women's World Cup of Golf.

Gwladys Nocera of France missed an eagle opportunity on the 18th which would have put her and teammate Virginie Lagoutte-Clement in a tie with the Koreans.

The French pair finished with 10 birdies and were alone in second place in the opening round of best-ball play at the 5,913m par-72 Gary Player Country Club.

Canada's Lorie Kane and Elena Sharp had three birdies on the front nine and five more after the turn to stand third at 8-under 64, a single stroke ahead of the Philippines, the US and pre-tournament favorites Sweden.

The US reached the turn in 4-under 32, with Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst picking up four birdies. They had three more on the back nine.

Saturday's format features alternate-shot foursomes.

Shin provided the anchor for the Koreans in a round in which Ji contributed her fair share of birdies. Shin, who won nine times in 18 starts in last year's Korean season, played in last year's Women's World Cup and was able to give good advice when it came to shot selection.

"Keeping the ball on the fairway was the key to making a low score," she said.

Ji said the Koreans had set their sights on shooting 7 or 8-under for the opening round.

"When we got six birdies in the first nine, we looked at it again, and just went as low as we could," she said.

Nocera said she and Lagoutte-Clement had been fading until there was a two-hour delay for lightning and a heavy rainstorm.

"We were on the 15th, so it was good to get back to the clubhouse and have a cup of coffee before going out again," she said.

After the break, the French got birdies at 16 and 18.

"I hit a 7-wood in to the green on 18 because I knew Virginie would get close to the pin with her third and have a definite birdie chance," Nocera said.

Lagoutte-Clement obliged by leaving a superb third shot right on the lip of the cup, and Nocera missed her 6m eagle attempt.

With the fairways and greens soft after heavy overnight storms, the players were able to attack the pins, knowing that risky shots were worth playing if their partners had put themselves in a safe position.

The result was 120 birdies and two eagles shared among the 40 players.

Australia picked up the first eagle, at the 450m par-5 fifth. Lindsey Wright hit her second shot to within 5m of the pin over an intimidating bunker in front of the green and sank the chip from the edge of the green.

Only Italy failed to break par, with Sylvia Cavalleri and Diana Luna managing just two birdies.
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