Ochoa leads after one round in Singapore

SINGAPORE, Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa shot a 6-under-par 66 to take the lead Thursday after the opening round of the HSBC Women's Champions golf tournament in Singapore.

Ochoa, playing in her first LPGA event of 2008, came out of a bunker to birdie the 16th hole and move into the lead.

Paula Creamer, who won the Fields Open last week, was tied for second-place at 67 with Ai Miyazato. Linda Wessberg, Jee Young Lee and In-Kyung Kim followed at 68.

Former world No. 1 Anika Sorenstam, who has a win and a runner-up finish this year, joined a group at 1-under 71, tied for 19th place.

Ochoa, an eight-time winner on tour last year, hadn't played in an LPGA event since November.

"I took a few more weeks to practice," she said. "I am 100 percent ready to go. I made maybe three or four mistakes, but I was able to make up and downs and make good putts. It's all about being confident, and I think that was important to me."