Gustafson Leads CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge

Sophie Gustafson is on a bit of a roll, one that's been long overdue.

Gustafson, the long-hitting Swede who won the last of her four career LPGA Tour victories in 2003, shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

Gustafson had eight birdies and a bogey on the Blackhawk Country Club course, continuing her recent streak of solid performances that include three top-10 finishes in her previous five tournaments.

"You never know what can happen, but it's always nice to have that bit of history," Gustafson said. "I have good confidence now. It is never enough, though."

Sophia Sheridan, playing in her third tour event of the year, matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had five straight birdies in a 68 that left her three strokes back along with 2006 winner Karrie Webb, Shanshan Feng, Kyeong Bae and Mikaela Parmlid.

Jiyai Shin opened with a 72. She has a tour-high three victories, leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list.

Defending champion In-Kyung Kim struggled to a 73.

Ochoa was in the middle of the pack before the string of five consecutive birdies pushed her near the top of the leaderboard. She came up a foot short of an eagle on the par-5 No. 11 then ran her birdie attempt on No. 13 just left of the cup, then had a bogey on No. 14 to drop four strokes back.

"It was a good day," Ochoa said. "It is getting a lot more harder than the practice rounds. This course is one where you need to have a good strategy because if it gets a little bit windy, it (could) be tough."

Gustafson had it fairly easy all afternoon. She had four birdies over a six-hole span on the front to hit the turn at 4 under, then added another four birdies on the back nine. Only a bogey on No. 14 — a hole that seemed to give nearly every player fits — prevented Gustafson from extending her lead.