Oct 9, 2008 - 11:38 PM
0 shoutsDANVILLE, California (Ticker) - Maria Hjorth and Michele Redman sit atop the leaderboard with defending champion Suzann Pettersen lurking two shots back after the first round of the $1.2 million Longs Drugs Challenge on Thursday.
Hjorth and Redman each recorded seven birdies and a bogey en route to rounds of 6-under-par 66 at Blackhawk Country Club.
In a field that features seven of the top 10 players on the LPGA money list, it was the 27th and 60th ranked players that carded the rounds of the day.
"I hit it great today," the 60th-ranked Redman said. "I really only had to chip one time on No. 8. I hit every green. Actually, I think I hit every fairway, come to think of it. I'm just hitting it really good right now, and have been."
Redman tied for first with 16-of-18 greens in regulation and tied for third with 12-of-13 fairways in regulation.
In-Kyung Kim and Mikaela Parmlid find themselves one shot back at 5-under, while last year's champion sits within striking distance.
"I just played really, really solid," Parmlid said. "I mean, I'm starting to play better. I've had a rough time, so it's been a change. Last week, or last tournament, I was 9-under and so that was kind of - I kept going. It's been nice. I see birdies coming."
Pettersen is in search of her second straight title here. The 27-year-old held off Lorena Ochoa in a two-hole playoff for her third of five victories in 2007.
The Norwegian, looking for her first win this year, had five birdies but bogeyed No. 18 to card a round of 4-under. She is joined by six other players two shots off the lead.
"Today was another solid round on the golf course," Pettersen said. "I tried to be aggressive where you can be aggressive around this golf course. Of course not the way I wanted to finish it off, but I still think I hit a fairly good putt."
Paula Creamer's quest for back-to-back wins got off to a rocky start with a 2-over 74.
Last week's champion at the Samsung World Championship, Creamer had an up-and-down round that included an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole and double-bogeys on No. 8 and No. 14.
Ochoa, the leader on the money list, started her round on the back nine and birdied three of the first four holes but was unable to build on the early momentum.
She went without a birdie for the remainder of her round, recording a bogey on the par-3 seventh to card a 70.
"It was a lot slower on my back nine," Ochoa said. "I didn't really have any good birdie chances, so I struggled a little bit. I saved par a couple of times. It was just a good round, and hopefully tomorrow will be better."
Veterans Juli Inkster and Laura Davies each finished at 2-under to join Ochoa four shots back.
First prize is $180,000.
