Galloway, NJ (Sports Network) - Stacy Lewis and Mika Miyazato both posted
rounds of six-under 65 on Friday to share the first-round lead of the ShopRite
LPGA Classic.
Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe are tied for third place at four-under 67,
while Maude-Aimee LeBlanc is alone in fifth at three-under 68 at Stockton
Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
Lexi Thompson, 17, posted a two-under 69 and headlines a group tied for sixth.
World No. 1 Yani Tseng only managed an even-par 71 on Thursday.
Lewis, who won this year's Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, began on the 10th tee
Friday and birdied the 13th and 17th holes in relatively benign conditions.
When she made the turn, the wind picked up, and Lewis' play reflected the
changes.
At the first, she poured in a 25-foot birdie effort, but at the par-four
second, her approach, dead into the wind, actually went over the green. Lewis
chipped past the flag and three-putted for a double-bogey to fall back to one-
under par.
She atoned for the error quickly, thanks in part, to the wind. At the par-five
third, Lewis had 176 yards to the front of the green with her second, and she
knocked a six-iron to six feet. Lewis drained the eagle putt to get her round
back on track.
"The wind just came out of nowhere," said Lewis. "Came back and made eagle on
three, so that really kind of got things going and then I made a few putts
coming in, so it was nice."
Lewis birdied the fifth to get to four-under, then joined Miyazato in the lead
late. She rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt at eight, then left a 10-foot eagle
putt short at the par-five ninth. Lewis tapped in for back-to-back birdies to
finish her round.
"I think confidence is everything for me right now," said Lewis, who earned
her first major title last year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. "Going back
to the Kraft last year I've gained so much confidence. If I'm comfortable over
a shot and I feel good about it, I'm probably going to hit a good shot. And so
good shots breed more confidence and so I just try to keep it rolling."
Miyazato birdied the third and fifth holes, then closed her opening in style.
At the par-five ninth, she had 220 yards for her second at hit a seven-wood to
20 feet. Miyazato rolled in the eagle putt to make the turn at four-under par.
Miyazato got to five-under with a birdie at the par-three 11th. At the par-
three 17th, she nearly recorded an ace, but settled for a three-foot birdie
that got her in at six-under par.
"I hit it almost perfect, but I think putting was more off today and second
shot, I had more confidence," said Miyazato.
Azahara Munoz, who won the last event on the LPGA Tour, the Sybase Match Play
Championship two weeks ago, shot a two-under 69 and is tied for sixth with
Karin Sjodin, Anna Nordqvist, Christina Kim, Mo Martin and Thompson.
NOTES: Lewis has two tour wins, while Miyazato is winless on tour...Defending
champion Brittany Lincicome had a one-over 72 on Friday...The struggles of
Michelle Wie continued on Friday with a seven-over 78.
The Sports Network