SYLVANIA, Ohio, July 2 (UPI) -- Laura Diaz, who has made the cut in only one of her last seven events, grabbed a share of the lead Thursday after one round of the Jamie Farr Classic.
Diaz was tied with Morgan Pressel and Song-Hee Kim at 7-under 64 following one trip around the Highland Meadows Golf Club course.
Some of the LPGA Tour's leading players, including Michelle Wie, were in position to challenge for the title. Wie, who is looking for her first tour victory and needs a win to earn a spot in the field at next week's U.S. Women's Open, shared fourth place at 65 with Suzann Pettersen.
Leading the group at 66 was Jiyai Shin, who won last week at the Wegmans LPGA and took over the lead in this year's money race. Shin, an overwhelming favorite to be named rookie of the year this season, became the 174th player in LPGA history to earn $1 million and it took her only 12 tournaments to do it.
Christie Kerr, Inbee Park, Lindsey Wright, Jee Young Lee and Minea Blomqvist also were at 66. The large group at 67 included world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa, Helen Alfredsson, Anna Nordqvist and Angela Stanford.
Nordqvist, also a rookie, recently made her first tour triumph a major title at the LPGA Championship.
