South Korea's rising star Park Sung-hyun shot a bogey-free round of 10-under 62 Thursday to take the first-day lead at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in the western port city of Incheon. The 22-year-old, who has won three domestic KLPGA titles this season, made five birdies on the front nine and five more on the back nine to set a course record at the par-72, 6,364-yard Sky 72 Ocean Course. Park, who had switched to lighter shafts for the LPGA event due to flu, said her illness may have been a blessing in disguise. "I think it forced me to concentrate even harder," she said. Four strokes behind Park were Solheim Cup stars Gerina Piller and Charley Hull, who are tied at 6-under par. Piller's opening round, bogey-free 66 was her lowest first round of the season, which she says was due in large part to the ideal scoring conditions. "This course, the rough has always been tough and firm greens," said Piller, who has been in search of her first victory since she joined the Tour in 2010. Hull carded a bogey-free 66 including five birdies in her first nine holes, but cooled on the back nine with just one birdie. "I've just been hitting it really well, touch wood, and putting good," Hull said. "I just felt like I was pretty solid out there." Korean rookie Kim Hyo-joo, her compatriot Ji Eun-Hee and China's Feng Shanshan are tied for third at 5-under par. Lexi Thompson is part of a group at 4-under par through round one. World No. 1 Park In-bee and No. 2 Lydia Ko posted opening rounds of 69 to sit at 3-under par. Geary ahead in Fiji New Zealander Josh Geary withstood howling winds to claim a two-shot lead in the opening round of the Fiji International Thursday. Geary finished on an even-par 72, two shots ahead of a five-strong pack comprising American Matt Kuchar — the bookies' favorite for the Aus$1.125 million (US$820,000) event — and four Australians. Local hero Vijay Singh, the three-time major winner who designed the Natadola Bay course, was in 33rd position after shooting six over, while defending champion Steve Jeffress was 11th on four over. Geary said the unforgiving conditions made for tough going, particularly early on. "But I made some great saves and made some great putts, which is unlikely when it's so windy," he said. "All in all it was a pretty hard day, so I'm happy with 72." Daniel Nisbet, one of the Australians in the tie for second, said the strong gusts meant there was little room for flair. "You don't go out there and play aggressively, you go out there and play defensively just so you don't make a big number," he said. "You're not really trying to make birdies, you're trying not to make doubles." The Fiji event is co-sanctioned by OneAsia and the Australasian PGA.
