Thu May 29 19:24:09 2008

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Webb and In-Kyung Kim lead Annika's event

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Mt. Pleasant, SC (Sports Network) - Karrie Webb and In-Kyung Kim both fired rounds of seven-under 65 on Thursday to share the opening-round lead of the Ginn Tribute Hosted by Annika.

The tournament host, Annika Sorenstam, only managed an even-par 72.

Perhaps the field is in better position, not just with Sorenstam only managing a 72 on Thursday. World No. 1 and six-time winner this year, Lorena Ochoa withdrew this week to be with an ailing uncle.

Sophie Gustafson is alone in third place at minus-six, followed by a large group in fourth.

Webb, already a Hall of Famer, flew out of the gate on Thursday with a tap-in birdie at the first. She knocked a hybrid-club shot into a bunker with her second at the par-five third, then holed out for an eagle.

She tallied her final front-nine birdie at the sixth. Webb's sand-wedge approach stopped three feet from the hole and she converted the birdie opportunity.

Webb got off to another fantastic start on the back nine. At the par-four 10th, Webb hit a five-iron to 30 feet and made the lengthy birdie putt. The Australian came up short of the green with her second at the par-five 11th, but chipped to four feet. She made that putt to reach six-under for the championship.

Webb cooled a bit after the birdie at 11. She parred her next six holes, but closed with another sensational birdie thanks to her trusty five-iron.

She hit her approach to four feet at the last and kicked in the birdie putt for her share of the lead.

"When you have as many chances as I did today, even though you feel like you could have left some out there, I'm not going to complain too much," said Webb, who is winless on the LPGA Tour since 2006. "I mean, if I was sitting on two-under and I would tell you, I left a lot out there, but you know, shooting seven-under, I'm very happy with."

Kim used spectacular iron play to get her piece of first.

At the par-five third, she chipped close to set up an easy birdie. One hole later, Kim missed a four-footer for par, but more than atoned for the error over the next group of holes.

Kim birdied the next three holes in a row all from inside seven feet with clubs ranging from a five-iron to a sand-wedge. She hit a nine-iron to eight feet to tally another birdie at nine.

Kim collected her next birdie at the par-five 11th. She wedged her third to four feet and holed the putt. At 13, Kim knocked a seven-iron to four feet and made that for her seventh birdie of the round.

At the next par five, the 508-yard 16th, Kim hit a 52-degree wedge to 10 feet. She drained that birdie effort to join Webb in first, then parred out.

"I played very solid all day. I hit it very well," said Kim. "I saw the lines very well today and I had a lot of opportunities and I made I think most of them, so I'm very glad to be at 7-under today."

Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr, Giulia Sergas, Inbee Park, Mi Hyun Kim, Allison Fouch, H.J. Choi and Heather Young share fourth at five- under 67.

Defending champion Nicole Castrale and last week's playoff winner of the LPGA Corning Classic, Leta Lindley both shot one-under 71s and are tied for 42nd place.