LAJOLLA, Calif., Sept. 18 (UPI) -- Jiyai Shin, who last week won her third tournament of the year on the LPGA Tour, shared the first-round lead Thursday at the Samsung World Championship.
Shin shot a 6-under 66 on the South Course of the Torrey Pines Golf Club to tie Song-Hee Kim for the top spot.
A dozen members of the elite 20-player field broke par on the course that hosted the 2008 U.S. Open.
Two-time former champion and world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa was tied for third at 5-under 67 with Sophie Gustafson.
Ai Miyazato and Juli Inkster were at 68. Inkster is one of just six Americans in the field. Paula Creamer shot a 69, Brittany Lincicome was at 70 and the group at 71 included Na Yeon Choi, Anna Nordqvist and Suzann Pettersen.
Shin won in a playoff last week at the NW Arkansas Championship. She is in her first full year as an LPGA Tour member, having won the British Women's Open in 2008 before joining the American circuit.
