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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, November 13, 2009

Wie tied for 10th place


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Michelle Wie shot a 2-under-par 70 yesterday in the opening round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

CARLOS JASSO | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Song-Hee Kim

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GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Michelle Wie shot a 2-under-par 70 yesterday and was five shots off the lead after the opening round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Wie, a Punahou alum and current Stanford student, had two birdies in a 2-under 34 front nine at the Guadalajara Country Club. She added another birdie at the par-4 12th hole, but bogeyed the par-3 17th for an even-par 36 coming in.

She is tied for 10th with Katherine Hull and M.J. Hur.

Song-Hee Kim shot a 7-under 65 for a two-stroke lead over Jiyai Shin, Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe — and six-shot advantage over the top-ranked Ochoa.

Kim had six birdies on the first 10 holes and also birdied the last to top the 36-player field. Winless in three seasons on the LPGA Tour, she's trying to become the ninth South Korean to win this year.

Shin, a three-time winner this season and the money leader, has already won the rookie of the year award and leads Ochoa in the player of the year race.

Ochoa shot a 71, making three birdies and two bogeys on her home course.

"I have no excuses," Ochoa said. "I played good today. I wasn't nervous. I controlled my game, but I couldn't get used to the green speeds. Hopefully, I won't make the same mistakes tomorrow."

Catriona Matthew and Eun-Hee Ji opened with 68s, while Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and Brittany Lang had 69s.

CHILDREN'S MIRACLE

Rose leads with opening 65: Justin Rose fired a 7-under 65 yesterday for a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Children's Miracle Network Classic at Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Rose was bogey-free on a breezy day with temperatures dipping into the low 50s at the Palm Course. Rickie Fowler, Greg Owen and Casey Wittenberg also played the Palm and were one shot back in the final PGA Tour event of the season.

Hawai'i's Parker McLachlin (Punahou alum) opened with a 74 at the Magnolia Course, while Dean Wilson (Castle High alum) had a 75 at the Palm.

AUSTRALIAN MASTERS

Tiger, two others share lead: Tiger Woods putted for birdie on every hole but the last one. He birdied all the par 5s. And the one time he took on one of the short par 4s at Kingston Heath, he came within inches of reaching the green.

Despite a bogey on his final hole, Woods put together a stress-free round of 6-under 66 yesterday to share the lead with James Nitties and Branden Grace at the Australian Masters in Melbourne.

"I bogeyed the last hole and missed two short putts for birdie," Woods said. "Other than that, it was a pretty good day."

HONG KONG OPEN

Duangdecha's 62 leads: Udorn Duangdecha shot an 8-under 62 behind 10 birdies yesterday to lead Robert-Jan Derksen of the Netherlands by one stroke after the first round of the Hong Kong Open.

Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy, the top two money winners on European Tour in the Race to Dubai, both shot 66 at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

ELSEWHERE

Taiheiyo Masters: Japanese teen star Ryo Ishikawa shot a 4-under 68 to finish a stroke behind the leaders after the first round of the Taiheiyo Masters at Gotemba, Japan. The 18-year-old Ishikawa bogeyed the final hole to drop a stroke behind the four co-leaders on the Taiheiyo Club's Gotemba Course.

Kiwi Challenge: Anthony Kim has won the Kiwi Challenge despite making a bogey in a playoff, beating Sean O'Hair to win the $1 million check yesterday at Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Kim shot a 5-under 66 and O'Hair birdied the 18th for a 69 to force a playoff tied at 137 in the 36-hole exhibition for players under 30.