Associated Press
Friday, May 19

BEAVERCREEK, Ohio -- Mi Hyun Kim picked up where she left off a year ago, matching the course record with a 9-under 63 to lead the Firstar LPGA Classic.

	Kim is seeking her third LPGA title in just her second year on tour.

The 23-year-old Kim, last year's LPGA rookie of the year, led Karrie Webb by two strokes Friday in the first round of the 54-hole tournament.

Kim, a two-time winner last season, is far more comfortable in the United States than she was a year ago when she tied for fourth in the tournament.

"When I came here for the first time, I was afraid of the tour and the American people," said Kim, a native of South Korea. "But they were all very nice. They realized that I didn't speak much English, so they spoke slowly and tried to help me understand. Now I speak a little English, but I am shy and afraid of making a mistake."

She did express her fondness for American fast food -- and PGA Tour star Fred Couples.

"He has a good swing and good manners," she said. "And he is handsome as well."

Annika Sorenstam and Brandie Burton shared third place at 66.

Conditions were ideal for scoring after the Country Club of the North course was hit by a rainstorm overnight. Of the 72 players with morning tee times, 44 were at par or better. Blustery winds raised the afternoon scores.

Last year, Kim shot a 65 in the final round to slide into the fourth-place tie behind winner Rosie Jones.

"I like fast greens and this course has fast greens," Kim said. "Second, the distance for me -- club choice was perfect."

Kim's 63 was her lowest round in her two years on tour and tied Dottie Pepper's tournament mark from the 1998 opening round.

Kim -- nicknamed "Peanut" because she stands just 5-foot-1 -- birdied five of her first eight holes and didn't have a bogey. She relied on her iron play to avoid any trouble.

Only two of her nine birdie putts were outside 4 feet. She hit wedges within 1, 2, 3 and 10 feet, 7-irons to 1 and 2 feet, and her 6-iron to 4, 4 and 13 feet for birdies.

When the wind picked up, it didn't affect her.

"My second nine, there was some wind," she said. "But I am not tall enough to feel it."

Webb, who has yet to finish below sixth in any of her seven starts, holed a 30-foot birdie putt on the par-4 finishing hole to move within two shots.

Her round included eight birdies -- including five putts from 12 feet or longer. She bogeyed the par-4 10th when her approach caught a tree in front of the green and she failed to get up and down.

"I made the turn at 4-under and I wasn't even on the leaderboard," said Webb, the LPGA's top player who has won four times on tour this season. "I knew I'd have to get something going."

Sorenstam leads the tour in greens in regulation and didn't miss one in her opening 66.

"It's nice to know you're going to hit the next green and have a shot at birdie," she said. "That gives you a lot of confidence. Then if you miss it, you know you'll have more chances to come. You don't have to put pressure on your putting."

Burton, who missed all of last year with shoulder surgery, was encouraged.

"I'm not quite there yet," she said. "But my short game saw some light today -- that's what's been holding me back. I still need to work on my putting, but I'm getting closer."

Gallery favorite Meg Mallon, a former Ohio State player, birdied seven of the first nine holes. But she came up short on her short-iron approaches at the 10th and 11th holes and bogeyed both before closing with seven pars for a 67.

"I was disappointed to start the back nine with a pair of bogeys, but in reality, it's great to be 5-under," she said. "I can't be greedy."

Jones said she was pleased with a 70.

"There were a lot of side winds, not into you or downwind, so it was tough to tell if it was hurting you or helping you," she said. "I'm pretty happy with a 70. I would have loved a 69 or 68 -- or a 63."