Jang seizes early lead at LPGA Hawaii golf

[hjhjh220]

KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AFP) ? South Korea's Jeong Jang made nine birdies with just one bogey en route to an eight-under-par 64 and a two-shot lead in the opening round of the 1.3 million dollar LPGA Fields Open Thursday.

Jang, who has two career victories, hit 13 fairways and 16 greens in the opening round.

"I missed a three-foot putt (on) the first hole, and that woke me up," Jang said.

"I hit really good tee shots today and the putting is really good, so everything was really good."

Jang started her round on the back nine, bogeying only the first hole (No. 10) before sinking consecutive birdies from Nos. 11-14.

She also finished the round strongly, with birdies on three of her final five holes.

Among the players trailing Jang is Paula Creamer, who birdied five of her first nine holes en route to a six-under 66, putting her two shots back.

Plagued by a wrist injury for most of last season, Korean-American Michelle Wie started her 2008 campaign on the right foot, birdying four of her first five holes before settling for a three-under 69 - tying her for 16th place.

"Felt really good to be back into it," Wie said.

"It felt good to make positive shots and make positive putts and to have that feeling where you're going under par and you're going low and you can produce any kind of shot you want.

"This round is definitely a confidence booster, and hopefully over the next few days, it'll just get better and better."

Meanwhile, Annika Sorenstam is one of 15 players tied for 31st place at two-under after shooting a 70.

The 10-time major winner started on the back nine and made three straight birdies beginning at No. 13 before playing the final eight holes at even par.

Sorenstam, who won the SBS Open last week for her 70th career Tour title, is trying to become the first player since LPGA founder Marilynn Smith in 1966 to win back-to-back official money events to open a season.

"I feel very good," Sorenstam said. "I hit the ball very well. The greens are tough out here. The wind is tough at times, but overall, very happy."

Kelli Kuehne and Angela Stanford are tied for third at five-under, while 11 others are one stroke further off the pace.