Women’s British Open champion Shin Ji-yai of South Korea fired a five-under 67 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Samsung World Championship.
Shin held a one-stroke lead over the US’ Paula Creamer with two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa among half a dozen golfers a further stroke back.
Shin, 20, gained membership on the US LPGA Tour when she sealed a surprising win at the women’s British Open in August.
However, she opted to return to the Korean LPGA Tour following her major victory, notching a victory at the Shinsegae KLPGA Championship last weekend as she aims for the tour title.
“Actually, a big change after British Open, more in Korea,” Shin said of the effects of her major victory. “I’m very famous now. And then I get more confidence. But after the British Open I played five tournaments in Korea and Japan. Last week, I won. Three weeks before, I was second. So I’m really waiting to win again.”
Shin, a top-10 finisher in six previous LPGA events this season, reeled off four straight birdies from the 12th before her lone bogey of the day at 16.
Shin said that whatever the outcome this week, she wants to join the US LPGA tour full-time next season.
“Yes, I think about playing in America,” she said. “It’s not scary because I’m long time waiting for this Tour, and actually now my dreams are coming true. So it’s exciting, yes.”
Creamer, the runner-up in this elite event in 2005, scattered five birdies throughout her round, using her last at the 17th to make up for her only miscue on the previous hole.
Creamer had to contend with one of the weather quirks of her native California, as she waited on the sixth tee for some fog to pass.
“It would come and go,” Creamer said. “It wasn’t worth it. I’m glad that we waited. It was so weird because the third tee box was right behind us and they could see fine. But we couldn’t see down our fairway.”
Ochoa, coming off her seventh victory of the season last Sunday, a playoff triumph at the Navistar Classic, had two bogeys in her first six holes but rebounded to shoot a 69.
She was aided by an eagle at the par-five 10th and added her third birdie of the day on 17.
“I was trying to make it,” Ochoa said of her eagle, the only one on the day. “Me and [caddie Dave Brooker], we want to get the most eagles of the year, and I am one behind. Every eagle is like, OK. It always feels good.”
The world No. 1 from Mexico is seeking to become the fourth player to win this event at least three times, including five-time winner Annika Sorenstam.
The Swedish star was also in the group sharing third, with a 69 that included four birdies and a bogey.
Ochoa and Sorenstam were tied with Taiwan’s Yani Tseng (曾雅妮), South Koreans Choi Na-yeon and Kim Song-hee and American Angela Stanford.
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