Mexico City, Mexico (SportsNetwork.com) - Christina Kim carded a first-round, 7-under 65 early on Thursday and she has a 1-shot lead at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational over Azahara Munoz.
Kim has won twice in her career on the LPGA Tour, with her last one coming back in 2005 at the Tournament of Champions.
"This course was fantastic," Kim said. "This course is very traditional and it's an old-fashioned golf course. You get a sense of, not age, but it's always great to be on a classic golf course. It's very demanding regardless of just having to figure out the 10 percent that you're hitting the ball further. It's been a beautiful golf course. It's been a wonderful, wonderful week so far."
It seemed as if Kim would have a significant lead after one round at Club de Golf Mexico, but Munoz used a late charge to get within one shot of the leader. Munoz shot a 6-under 66 Thursday.
Seventeen-year-old Lydia Ko had an impressive day as well, shooting a 4-under 68 to get within three. Ko is alone in third place.
World No. 1 Inbee Park, who is trying to catch world No. 2 Stacy Lewis in the Race for the CME Globe, is tied for seventh at 2-under 70 along with defending champion Lexi Thompson and five others.
Lewis struggled on day one. She did not make a single birdie on her way to a 4-over 76. Lewis is tied for 31st.
Kim, who was in the very first group to tee off on Thursday, cruised right out of the gate. Following a par at the first, Kim rolled in an eagle on the par-5 second hole to get to 2-under. The eagle would not be Kim's last of the day.
Two more birdies on four and seven helped Kim make the turn at minus-4. Kim was coasting along to start the back nine as she rattled off six straight pars from No. 10, making it eight consecutive pars overall going back to No. 8.
Just like she began the day, Kim finished strong. Her third birdie on 16 got Kim to minus-5. Then on the par-5 17th, Kim drained her second eagle of the day, vaulting her all the way up to 7-under. She ended with a par on 18 to grab the very early clubhouse lead.
Kim's lead appeared to be enough to give her a big advantage after one round as she held a 4-shot lead as most of the groups were finishing up day one. However, Munoz was determined to make a move late in her round.
Munoz began with two birdies on her first three holes on one and three, but she gave one of those shots back with a bogey on four. After four straight pars from five, Munoz drained her third birdie on No. 9 to make the turn at 2- under.
Still five shots back of the leader, Munoz started the back nine with a pair of pars before making birdies on 12, 14 and 16, getting her all the way up to 5-under. Now just two shots behind Kim, Munoz poured in a huge eagle of her own on No. 17, putting her into a tie for the lead. Munoz tripped to a bogey at the last to fall back one shot after the first round.
"I played so well today. I made a lot of good putts and I actually should have made a lot more so that was nice," Munoz said. "I started to putt really well in Taiwan again. I've been putting so well all year, and then the last month has been a little bit of a struggle in Asia, so finally in Taiwan I started putting better and I guess I got more comfortable and gaining a little confidence. Putting I guess is always the key."
Ko tripped to a bogey at the first to begin her day, but a pair of birdies on two and three got her on the right track. Ko made back-to-back birdies again on six and seven, getting her to 3-under.
Another bogey on 11 dropped Ko back to minus-2, but following five straight pars, Ko finished strong with her third pair of gains on 17 and 18, which got her into sole possession of third place.
NOTES: Kim has just two top-10 finishes this season, with her best finish coming at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, where she was runner-up ... Munoz's only win on tour came at the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship. Munoz has eight top-10 finishes this year, including two runner-up finishes ... Ko is seeking her third victory on tour this year ... Lewis is currently No. 1 in the Race for the CME Globe, while Park is right behind her in second.
