Ochoa is tied in a four-way lead at four-under par (AFP)
World number one Lorena Ochoa was tied in a four-way lead at four-under par after the first round Thursday at the 1.3-million-dollar HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore.
World number one Lorena Ochoa was tied in a four-way lead at four-under par after the first round Thursday at the 1.3-million-dollar HSBC Women's Champions tournament in Singapore.
Joining Ochoa at the top of the leaderboard after carding 68 was US veteran Cristie Kerr, fellow American Angela Stanford and South Korea's Park Hee-Young.
Japan's Ai Miyazato was one shot behind at three-under par as she continued her fine form to the season after having won the tour's season opener in Thailand last week.
Also one shot behind the first-round leaders were American Christina Kim, Swede Sophie Gustafson and South Korea's Kim Song-Hee.
Ochoa, who won the inaugural title in 2008, made three birdies each in the front nine and back nine but her round was marred by a bogey on the 12th and 14th hole.
She missed a chance for an eagle at the ninth hole and had to settle for a birdie instead.
"I'm happy about the good day. It was a good start and I like the position," said Ochoa.
The former champion fancies her chances of regaining the title but said she needed to continue to score in the 60s to stand a chance of lifting the trophy on Sunday.
"I think I have a good opportunity to win the tournament but that means that I need to do four rounds in the 60s and then not make many mistakes," said the Mexican.
"So like I said before, I'm working on my second shots, trying to be more consistent and then hopefully we can go out with another good round tomorrow.
"And for tomorrow, if I play more consistent, I think I have a good chance to put up a low round."
World number two and defending champion Shin Ji-Yai was three shots behind at one-under for a total of 71 while crowd-puller Michelle Wie carded a 72.
Wie, making her first appearance at the tournament, was left frustrated as she made three bogeys in the back nine.
"It was a little frustrating today trying to make birdies but hopefully tomorrow I'll make some more," said the American.
"I felt like I hit a lot of good shots out there. Just need to make a couple more putts and keep hitting my irons good."
Asked to rate the course at the Tanah Merah Country Club, Wie said: "It's a tricky course. It's not the easiest one and it's a good competition course."
© 2010 AFP/sid
