Kim takes narrow advantage

Christina Kim shot a 7-under 64 Thursday and held a one-stroke lead over Rachel Teske after the first round of the LPGA Longs Drugs Challenge.

Kim, 20, of San Jose, has four top-10 finishes this season. She didn't have a bogey on an almost windless day at The Ridge Golf Club, a 6,235-yard layout that is a new venue for the 9-year-old tournament.

"I can't remember when I did that before," said the outgoing Kim, who wore multicolored flowered pants, a pink top and her pink beret backwards.

Teske, an eight-time winner on the LPGA Tour, had four birdies and an eagle in her second nine and is one stroke ahead four players.

"I don't know what happened," said Teske, who won two LPGA events last year and has four top-10 finishes this season. "But I just really put a really good swing on the second shot into the green on No. 10 and I had that rhythm for the rest of the nine. It's been awhile since I've struck the ball so crisply."

Juli Inkster, the LPGA Hall of Famer and two-time winner of this tournament, former LPGA rookie of the year Beth Bauer, Miriam Nagl and Michelle Estill had 66s.

Inkster, who has played in this event every year since it started in 1996 and won it in 1999 and 2000, opened the round with 13 straight pars. Then she had three birdies and an eagle in her final five holes.

"It's a tough course; it's a tough driving course," Inkster said. "It's a lot of uphill and downhill where you have to hit the right club. I haven't been hitting the ball that well, but I just hung in there."

Kim, who began the opening round on the back nine, finished the first round with consecutive birdies.

"It's been a roller-coaster ride for me this season," said Kim, who's ranked 22nd on the LPGA money list with $438,530. "But it's great to play well again. This is a very challenging layout. It was a little rough in some spots and it's tough. But it's shotmaker's course, and it's something I personally like."

Kim's career-best second-place finish three weeks ago in the State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill., also featured a career-best opening round of 62.

Kim and Inkster consider the event their extended home facility. Both players are Northern California natives and have large groups of family and friends in the gallery.

"She dresses flashy and she's very positive," Inkster said of the tournament leader, her junior by 24 years. "She's just a free spirit. Golf is what she does and she likes to have fun."

Defending champion Helen Alfredsson shot an opening 69.

Annika Sorenstam, the LPGA's season money leader, is not entered in the event.

Wendy Doolan withdrew from the $1 million tournament prior to the first round and was replaced in the 144-player field by Dina Ammaccapane.

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