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WEIHAI, China, July 1 (Xinhua) -- Taking advantage of the quiet early morning conditions, China's Feng Shanshan and South Koreans Jang Ha-na and Lee Min-young each carded bogey-free rounds of seven-under 65 on Friday to share the lead after the first day of the Kumho Tire Ladies Open in Shandong province.
South Koreans Choi Yoo-lim and Lee Jeong were one shot back at the 500,000,000 won (US$435,000) event, a tournament co-sponsored by the China LPGA Tour and the Ladies PGA Tour of Korea (KLPGA) at Weihai Point. Compatriots Park You-na and Park Bo-mi were two shots off the pace after rounds of 67.
Starting the day on Weihai Point's back nine in the same group, world No. 10 Jang put together a flawless round of 33-32, only to be matched by China No. 1 Feng on the strength of a strong finish (the front nine) at 34-31.
"This is my sponsor's event. I tried my best to hit shot by shot. I didn't notice my score until No.17. Obviously, seven-under is a great score. I felt very happy," said Jang, the 2013 Hyundai China Ladies Open champion who has won twice on the US LPGA Tour this year.
After playing in the Kumho Tire Ladies Open three times previously, with her best finish being an equal fourth last year, the 24-year-old Seoul native said she now felt she had enough experience to understand how to play the rocky Weihai Point layout that juts out into Bohai Bay.
"The first year, I was young and inexperienced. I just hit driver as many times as possible only to have many OBs and unplayable lies. Now I am mature. You know, there's no need to use driver every hole with so many trees and so many bunkers out there. I just hit a driver five times today," said Jang. "I think that at the end of the day the winner could be an experienced player who knows how to tame this golf course."
Feng, the world No. 12, said she was happy with her round that included five birdies over her closing nine (the front nine) as she prepared for next week's US Women's Open in California.
"I felt a lot of pressure off the first tee (the 10th hole) and hit a poor shot. Luckily, I found my ball. I also had two lip-outs for the first two holes. I made the first birdie at my third hole (the 12th hole) and settled down. Since then, I played a relaxed round. I converted many birdies chances after the turn. It's a steady round. Seven-under is a great score, definitely," said the Guangdong native who finished runner-up at the tournament last year behind Korean winner Kim Hyo-joo.
"This is my sponsor's event, like the Buick Championship. I am not the defending champion, but you know KLPGA players are always strong. So I felt more or less pressure at the very beginning. Today everything is good. I would take such a score for the last two days."
Lee, who tied for third at the tournament two years ago, put herself into contention for her fourth KLPGA Tour win when she birdied three of her last six holes on the front nine.
"The golf course is too difficult. I worried about my game entering this week. So the experience is no help. But today I had many good tee shots. It's all about accuracy," said the 24-year-old.
