Sorenstam takes opening advantage

Sorenstam began her round on the back nine of El Caballero Country Club. She struggled out of the gate with a bogey at the par-four 11th. Sorenstam recovered that shot with a birdie at the par-four 13th.

The four-time major winner then got a big boost on the 14th. Sorenstam holed a nine-iron from 129 yards out for an eagle that moved her to minus-two. However, she faltered with a bogey at the next. Sorenstam quickly bounced back with a birdie at the par-three 16th.

Sorenstam moved to minus-four when she chipped-in for eagle at the par-five 17th that capped an opening-nine 32.

"It was a little bit of an up-and-down round I must say, especially on my first nine," said Sorenstam. "I hit some good shots today, I really did. It's a tough golf course, you have to place the shots on the right side of the green, and I think I did that today. And therefore I had a chance to make either eagle or birdie."

On the front nine, Sorenstam played more consistently. She birdied the par- five first, but bogeyed the next as she could not get up-and-down from a green-side bunker. From there, she parred the final seven holes to take a two- shot lead to the clubhouse.

"I didn't back up on purpose," Sorenstam said. "I actually hit the pin on No. 5 and I thought I made another eagle there, another duce, but I hit the pin and it came back about 30 feet. I had a good birdie opportunity on No. 6. It was probably seven feet for birdie. So I didn't make them on the backside."

Lorena Ochoa, Yu Ping Lin, Stephanie Louden and Alison Nicholas share third place at one-under-par 71.

Figg-Currier notched three birdies and one bogey on the front nine to give her second place. She opened with a birdie at the par-five first when she chipped to within four feet.

Figg-Currier could not hold the momentum however as she left her second shot short at the next and was unable to get up-and-down for par. She notched back- to-back birdies from the fifth.

Around the turn, Figg-Currier parred the first seven holes on the back side. She then two-putted for birdie at the par-five 17th. She dropped back to minus-two with a bogey at the last after her drive found a bunker.

"I had a little hiccup on the last hole, but finished under-par on this course," said Figg-Currier. "The winds were pretty constantly blowing. It puts a lot of value on a lot of different things."

Heather Bowie, Tina Barrett, Natalie Gulbis, Danielle Ammaccapane and Lorie Kane are tied for seventh at even-par 72.

Defending champion Se Ri Pak is among a large group tied at one-over-par 73.

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