Cheyenne Woods seizes share of LPGA lead

Rookie Cheyenne Woods, 17-time winner Cristie Kerr and Thailand`s P.K. Kongkraphan equaled the course record of nine-under par 63 on Thursday to share the first-round lead at the Manulife LPGA Classic.

Woods, whose superstar uncle was slogging through a tough first round of the US PGA Tour`s Memorial tournament on Thursday, gave the famous family name a boost with the best-round of her young career.

She hit all 14 fairways at Whistle Bear Country Club, 16 greens and needed just 26 putts.

"I played really solid all day," said Woods. "I had one bogey, which was a stupid three-putt, but overall I played solid."

The relaxed atmosphere in her group with Jaye Marie Green and Canadian Brittany Henderson also helped, Woods said.

"That`s sometimes when I play my best and I guess it worked out," she said.

In ideal scoring conditions, Germany`s Sandra Gal and Israel`s Laetitia shared fourth place on eight-under 64.

A total of 28 players were within four shots of the lead.

Woods had eight birdies and an eagle, her only blemish that three-putt bogey at the sixth.

Her eagle at the par-five ninth was followed by three straight birdies that moved her to seven under par.

Birdies at 16 and 17 put her at nine-under and in possession of the outright lead.

Kerr, who teed off later, got off to a blistering start with birdies at seven of her first nine holes as she played her way to a share of the lead.

"I think you just know that the course is giving some birdies up and that if you`re patient, you get a lot of opportunities and then get on a roll, which is what I did," the American veteran said.

Kerr is trying to add a second tour title of 2015 to the Kia Classic trophy she lifted in March.

Woods`s previous best finish at an LPGA Tour event was a tie for 23rd at the 2014 Women`s Australian Open, before she was a member of the tour.

Defending champion Park In-Bee finished with a 69 that left her tied for 43rd. World number one Lydia Ko struggled in her first event back from a fortnight`s break, her one-under effort leaving her with a bit of ground to make up to make the halfway cut.