Brittany Lang shoots 66 for Mizuno Classic lead, 1st Ld-Writethru, GLF

Fri, Nov 6 08:43 AM

SHIMA, Japan (AP) American Brittany Lang shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Japan's Nobuko Kizawa and South Korea's Hee Young Park after the first round of the Mizuno Classic. "I've had a very good year," Lang said.

"I've played a lot of really good golf. I always play well this time of the year for some reason, so I just try to practice and have some fun.

" Lang, who is winless in four seasons on the LPGA Tour, reached 7-under at Kintetsu Kashikojima with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, but bogeyed the eighth and finished the round with a par. "I had an impression that the greens were fast," said Park, who birdied the last two holes to set up a share of second place.

"But the greens were in great shape and I think it was in a good condition for the players to play." Vicky Hurst, 2007 winner Momoko Ueda, Bo Bae Song and Mi-Jeong Jeon opened with 68s, and defending champion Jiyai Shin and Japanese star Ai Miyazato topped a group at 69.

Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had a 71 in the event, which is co-sanctioned by the Japan LPGA. "It was a slow start," said Ochoa. "I didn't make a birdie until the eighth hole.

When you just have two birdies, that's not enough. I think I need to strike my iron shots to be a little bit closer tomorrow, and hopefully I will have a better day tomorrow.

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