South Korea takes early lead in Sun City

2008-01-18

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SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA (TICKER) -- Eun-Hee Ji and Ji Yai Shin got off to a fast start during Friday's first round of the $1.4 million Women's World Cup of Golf.

The South Korean duo posted a bogey-free 11-under-par round of 61 during the betterball opening day at the par-72 Gary Player Country Club.

The South Koreans hold a one-stroke lead over the French team of Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement.

"If somebody had told us that we would shoot 10-under today, we would have sang yesterday," Nocera said. "That is for sure."

The event does not have any of the world's leading six players taking part. Shin and Ji, two of 15 Koreans in the top 50, took full advantage of the opportunity to shine.

The duo shot 30 through the front nine and then added further birdies on the 10th, 11th, 15th, 17th and 18th.

"We expected about 7- or 8-(under) today, but the front nine, we played really well, so we changed the plan to have that score be our nine-hole score," Shin said.

Sitting three strokes off the Koreans' pace is the Canadian team of Alena Sharp and Lorie Kane.

"I think for the first tournament of the year, first round of the year, you're just out there trying to make good contact, shake a little bit of rust off and try to make some birdies," Kane said.

The American duo of all-time greats Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst are in a three-way tie for fouth at 7-under. They are matched by the Philippines pairing of Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin, and the Swedish duo of Sophie Gustafson and Maria Hjorth.

Inkster and Hurst matched six of the Koreans' first eight birdies but could collect only one more over the closing stretch after heavy rain held up play for over two hours.

Last year's winners from Paraguay, Julieta Granada and Celeste Troche, fired a 6-under 66 and are tied for seventh with Japan and Taiwan.

The Paraguayans posted a wire-to-wire victory last year, jumping out to a four-stroke lead after the first round.

England's Trish Johnson and Danielle Masters are tied for 10th at 5-under with China and the Welsh duo of Becky Brewerton and Becky Morgan.

The Scottish team of Catriona Matthew and Mhairi McKay posted a round of 4-under and are tied with Australia, Brazil and host South Africa.

Co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour, the Women's World Cup features 20 two-player teams representing their respective countries.

The winners will be determined by combining each team's scores from the three days.

First prize is $280,000.