MIE, Japan, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- Australia's Rachel Hetherington shot a 7-under-par 65 Friday to grab the first-round lead at the LPGA's $1.2 million Mizuno Classic in Japan.
Annika Sorenstam, seeking to win the 54-hole event for a record sixth consecutive year, was six strokes back and in 27th place at 1-under-par 71.
Hetherington, who has not posted an LPGA victory in nearly three years, used a spurt from Nos. 13-16 to take the lead. She eagled the par-5 13th, gave a stroke back at 14 with a bogey but birdied 15 and 16 to move to 7-under.
Mitsuko Kawaski, Rui Kitada, Brittany Lang and Julieta Granada were tied for second, three strokes behind Hetherington. A logjam of 14 players, including Karrie Webb and local favorite Ai Miyazato, were at 3-under-par 69.
