Shin leads at Samsung World Championship

Oct 3, 2008 - 12:36 PM HALF MOON BAY, California (Ticker) -- Ji-Yai Shin owns a one-shot lead entering Friday's second round of the Samsung World Championship.

Shin fired a 5-under-par 67 during Thursday's opening round to surge to the top of the leaderboard.

Paula Creamer sits a stroke behind and two-time reigning champion Lorena Ochoa is in a group of six golfers another shot back at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links' Ocean Course.

A 20-year-old from South Korea, Shin gained membership on the LPGA Tour when she sealed a surprising win at the Women's British Open in August. However, she opted to return to the Korean LPGA Tour following her major victory. She notched a victory at the Shinsegae KLPGA Championship last weekend and is contending for the tour title.

A top-10 finisher in six previous LPGA events this season, Shin picked up steam on the back nine, ripping off four straight birdies starting at No. 12 before settling for her only bogey of the round at No. 16.

A runner-up here in 2005, Creamer spread five birdies throughout her first round, using her last at the 17th to make up for her only bogey on the previous hole.

The native Californian did have issues with the weather, waiting on the tee at No. 6 for several minutes as fog passed over the area. Despite the delay, Creamer went on to par the hole, remaining at 2-under.

Coming off her seventh victory of the season in a playoff at the Navistar Classic last week, Ochoa managed a 3-under 69 despite collecting two bogeys in her first six holes.

The world No. 1 rebounded with an eagle on the par-5 10th, chipping in from 35 yards out, and added her third birdie of the day on the 17th.

Ochoa is looking to become the fourth player to win this event at least three times, including five-time winner Annika Sorenstam.

The Swedish star is also tied for third following the opening round, notching four birdies along with a bogey.

Ochoa and Sorenstam are tied with Na Yeon Choi, Yani Tseng, Song-Hee Kim and Angela Stanford.

First prize is $250,000.