Sweden's Sophie Gustafson, who is seeking her first win on the tour in six years, posted a seven-under par 65 to grab the first-round lead at the LPGA's CVS Challenge on Thursday.

Gustafson has had runner-up finishes in each of the past five years, including a second place at this year's Evian Masters. Her last win was the 2003 Samsung World Championship.

She leads South Korea's Na Ri Kim, American Angela Stanford and Mexico's Sophia Sheridan by two strokes in the 1.1 million dollar tournament at the Blackhawk Country Club course.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa of Mexico, Karrie Webb of Australia, China's Feng Shan-shan, South Korea's Kyeong Bae and Mikaela Parmlid of Sweden each carded four-under 68 for fifth place.

Suzann Pettersen, Jennifer Rosales, Kim Welch, Tseng Yani, Karine Icher, Anna Grzebien, Maria Hjorth, Helen Alfredsson, Beth Bader and Kim Joo-mi are tied for 10th at minus-three.

Rookie star Shin Ji-yai managed an even-par 72 and is tied for 46th, while defending champ and compatriot Kim In-kyung fired a one-over 73 and it tied at 64th. Shin is the leading money earner on the tour this year.

Gustafson, who started on hole No. 10, made birdie on the 12th and 15th holes.

She added two more at 17 and 18 to get to three under at the turn.

She began the second nine with a birdie at No. 3 then added three more on the fifth, sixth and eighth holes to reach seven under.

Casie Cathres, a 13-year-old amateur, posted a hole-in-one the par-three 12th hole. She finished at two-over-par 74.

AFP

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