SHIMA, Japan (AP) -American Brittany Lang shot a 6-under 66 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Japan's Nobuko Kizawa and South Korea's Hee Young Park after the first round of the Mizuno Classic.
``I've had a very good year,'' Lang said. ``I've played a lot of really good golf. I always play well this time of the year for some reason, so I just try to practice and have some fun.''
Lang, the long-hitting former Duke star who is winless in four seasons on the LPGA Tour, reached 7 under at Kintetsu Kashikojima with an eagle on the par-5 seventh, but bogeyed the eighth and finished the round with a par.
``I had an impression that the greens were fast,'' she Park, who birdied the last two holes to set up the tie for second. ``But the greens were in great shape and I think it was in a good condition for the players to play.''
Vicky Hurst, 2007 winner Momoko Ueda, Bo Bae Song and Mi-Jeong Jeon opened with 68s, and defending champion Jiyai Shin and Japanese star Ai Miyazato topped a group at 69.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had a 71 in the event co-sanctioned by the Japan LPGA.
``It was a slow start,'' said Ochoa. ``I didn't make a birdie until the eighth hole. When you just have two birdies, that's not enough. I think I need to strike my iron shots to be a little bit closer tomorrow, and hopefully I will have a better day tomorrow.''
