Shin seizes one-stroke LPGA lead

World No. 3 Jiyai Shin of South Korea has fired a five-under par 66 to seize a one-stroke lead over Germany's Sandra Gal after the first round of the LPGA ShopRite Classic. Windy conditions near Atlantic City gusted above 20 miles (32 kilometers) per hour at the Bay Course at Seaview, adding to the challenge of a course with dense rough and fast greens. "It was so windy when I came for practice so I'm guessing my goal is maybe even or just 1-under par," Shin said. "When it hit the putting, the winds take it a long way. So I'm thinking, it's really tough." She birdied the par-4 second, sinking a 30-foot (nine-meter) downhill putt, and par-4 fourth holes, then ran off a streak of three birdies in a row at the par-4 eighth, par-5 ninth and par-4 10th holes. Shin took her lone bogey of the day at the par-4 13th but closed with a birdie to keep a one-stroke lead over playing partner Gal. "Today, my putting was great and I didn't miss any fairways," Shin said. "I missed a couple of holes, but it was pretty good play with this wind." Gal birdied the second and par-5 third holes, then began the back nine with a birdie and sank another at the par-4 12th before stumbling with a bogey at 13 as well. She also birdied the par-5 18th to stay one off Shin's pace. Scotland's Catriona Matthew was third on 68 with a group on 69 including Australian Lindsey Wright, Americans Cristie Kerr and Vicky Hurst, South Korean I.K. Kim and Britain's Karen Stupples.