Gustafson looks to find winning touch

Sophie Gustafson shot a three-under-par 69 on Friday to take a one-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa, Maria Hjorth and Shanshan Feng in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge in Danville, Calif.

After opening with a 65 on Thursday, Gustafson missed three eagle putts and struggled with her touch on the greens at Blackhawk Country Club.

Gustafson, the Swede who won the last of her four LPGA Tour victories in 2003, had a 10-under 134 total. The top-ranked Ochoa shot a 67, Hjorth had a 66 and Feng a 67.

The long-hitting Gustafson missed several chances to extend her lead. She three-putted the par-four sixth after driving the green, then rolled her eagle attempt on No. 9 just past the hole before settling for a birdie.

Jiyai Shin, who leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list, withdrew after five holes. The South Korean, who shot a 72 in the first round, was ill earlier this week and carried an umbrella with her on Friday when temperatures at Blackhawk were in the 90s. She pulled out after bogeying the second and fifth holes.

Sun Young Yoo had the day’s best round with a 64 to move to within three shots of Gustafson. Angela Stanford (70), Suzann Pettersen (68) and Joo Mi Kim (68) also were seven under.

Cochran, Watson share the lead

Russ Cochran and Denis Watson shared the first-round lead at six-under 66 on a windy and drizzly day at the SAS Championship in Cary, N.C.

Joey Sindelar, Larry Mize, R.W. Eaks, Dan Forsman, Jim Thorpe and Tom Pernice Jr. were tied at one stroke back.

Watson, who has two top-10 finishes on the Champions Tour this year, matched his best round of 2009.