Ryu, Kang share Women's British Open lead

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HOYLAKE, England, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Ryu So-yeon and Haeji Kang each shot 2-under-par 70 Thursday in tying for the lead after the first round of the Ricoh Women's British Open.

Ryu, who won the U.S. Women's Open last year, sank five birdies against three bogeys in her opening round. Kang, who has never finished higher than 15th in a major tournament, used six birdies in offsetting a double bogey and two bogeys for her share of the lead.

The Royal Liverpool Gold Club was playing tough Thursday with only nine other golfers -- all tied for third at 1-under 71-- breaking par. That group includes Top 10-ranked players Ai Miyazato and Jiyai Shin.

Defending champion and world No. 1 Yani Tseng is among a crush of 17 players at even-par 72.

Kang, 21, had a bogey at the first hole Thursday but posted back-to-back birdies over Nos. 6-7. However, she had a 6 at the par-4 eighth. A birdie at the ninth hole allowed her to make the turn at even.

She also had a birdie at 11 and made a move with consecutive birdies at 15 and 16 before a bogey at 17 slowed her some.

Ryu was also even over Nos. 1-9, with a birdie at 2 and a bogey at 3. Her four second-nine birdies came at 13 and par 5s at 10, 16 and 18. She had bogeys at 14 and 17.