Hjorth Takes LPGA Lead

Sweden’s Maria Hjorth shot a five-under-par 67 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Takefuji Classic.

Sweden’s Sophie Gustafson, the Subaru Memorial of Naples winner, was a stroke back along with Nancy Scranton and Emilee Klein. A.J. Eathorne, Moira Dunn and Danielle Ammaccapane shot 69s.

Defending champion Karrie Webb shot a 70.

Webb, a playoff winner last year over Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam, is coming off consecutive runner-up finishes. The Australian star is winless in three events this year after opening last season with four consecutive victories.

Sorenstam, making her first start of the year, also opened with a 70. South Korea’s Grace Park, The Office Depot winner on Jan. 28 in Miami, had a 74.

Hjorth, a two-time winner in 1999, had six birdies and a bogey in overcast conditions on the Kona Country Club course.

“I hit a lot of greens, but I really didn’t putt that good,” Hjorth said. “I hit a lot of shots close to the hole and missed them. I missed one that was three feet; a few others from six to eight feet.”

But her approach shots put her in position for birdies at three of the four par fives.

“They’re fairly long this week,” Hjorth said. “The only one you can really reach in two is probably 18. But if you don’t hit it, you want to be short on the green. We took one club shorter and so it was a fairly easy chip.

“The others, I just laid up to a good number where I had confidence that I could hit it close to the hole.”