LPGA Tournament : A 67 Gives Shelley Hamlin One-Shot Lead Over 4 Players

Shelley Hamlin shot a five-under-par 67 Thursday to take a one-stroke lead in the first round of the $300,000 LPGA Henredon golf tournament.

“I would have to say that I was brilliant today,” said Hamlin, who hit a 40-foot putt for a birdie on the 18th hole.

“It was a day I gave nothing away. A key was my putting--I got a tip from a pro in Fresno.”

Hamlin said another key to her good round was deciding to wear running shoes because of blisters on her feet caused by the humidity.

“I’m going to stick with my running shoes,” she said. “When you’ve been on tour for 15 years, your feet have covered a lot of ground.”

The opening round of the 72-hole tournament started under cloudy skies, but the sun came out before noon, sending temperatures into the 90s. Close on Hamlin’s heels were four golfers, including local favorite Dot Germain, from Greensboro, N.C.

Also at 68 were Kathy Whitworth, Colleen Walker and Laurie Rinker.