Shin leads Creamer by one in fog-delayed Samsung Championship

10/3/2008

Ji-Yai Shin became a household name back home in South Korea and even somewhat in Japan after she won the Women's British Open in August.

Now, the 20-year-old Shin is interested in raising her profile in the United States -- with regular success on the LPGA Tour.

She shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday to take the first-day lead in the Samsung World Championship, topping Paula Creamer's 68 that featured a birdie on 17 following a bogey on the previous hole.

Lorena Ochoa and Annika Sorenstam were only 17 minutes into their rounds and on the second fairway as the last twosome to start when the horn sounded and play was suspended for 26 minutes because of dense fog. It was eerie at times in the fog, with the crash of ocean waves serving as background noise as players searched for the flag before they hit.

Creamer was held up at the sixth tee, where the fog was at its thickest on the Ocean Course at Half Moon Bay Golf Links.

Leaderboard – Round 1:

1.   Ji-Yai Shin                     67  - 5
2.   Paula Creamer               68  - 4
3.   Na Yeon Choi                 69  - 3
      Yani Tseng                    69  - 3
      Song-Hee Kim               69  - 3
      Angela Stanford             69  - 3
      Lorena Ocha                  69  - 3
      Anika Sorenstam            69  - 3
9.   Katherine Hull                70  - 2
10. Jeong Jang                     72   E
 

Source: AP, LPGA Tour