Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe, of Colombia, fired five-under 67s to share the lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic.
American Creamer won for the 10th time on the Tour earlier this year at the HSBC Women’s Champions, while Uribe claimed the title at the 2011 LPGA Brazil Cup.
“I played pretty solid. I had one bogey, but I gave myself a bunch of opportunities, and you know, putted really well, made some good two-putts,” said Creamer.
Cristie Kerr began her tournament with a four-under 68 at the Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Club. She was joined in third place by China’s Feng Shanshan, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Lee Mi-Hyang, of South Korea.
World number one Park In-bee was one stroke back at three under and shares seventh place with Lexi Thompson, Tiffany Joh, Azahara Munoz and Lizette Salas.
Stacy Lewis fired a two-under 70. She is one of 18 players tied for 12th. Japan’s Ai Miyazato and 2011 US Women’s Open champion Ruy So-Yeon are also in the group at two under.
The 27-year-old Creamer had consecutive birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 after beginning her round on the back nine. She added two more birdies on 17 and 18 to make the turn at three under.
Creamer birdied No. 2 to reach four-under and she tied for the lead with a birdie at the eighth hole.
“And I think it’s an advantage playing early in the morning, and I wanted to take that advantage and try and get as many birdies, but eliminate the bogeys,” Creamer said.
Park said she is hoping to improve her short game on Friday.
“Today my ball striking was great. I hit almost every fairway and every green, and I probably hit at everything inside 15 feet. Didn’t hole anything,” Park said.
“Had two tap-in birdies and one five-footer for birdie. Except for that, it was actually a little tougher day on the greens for me, but the ball striking was just really, really good.”