CN CANADIAN WOMEN'S OPEN RELATED STORIES CN Canadian Women's Open Preview Round 1: Diaz leads with opening round of 65 Round 2: Shi-Hyun Ahn and Juli Inkster share lead Round 3: Lorena Ochoa moves four shots clear Round 4: Lorena Ochoa gains fifth win of 2007 CN Canadian Women's Open Scores 2007 LPGA Tour Schedule GOLF TODAY TOP STORIES Sweden win World Cup Internationals claim Lexus Cup Pampling wins in a playoff Choi wins Skins Game Amateur: EGU allow range finders GREAT GIFTS FOR GOLFERS Huge savings on Festive gifts! A golf break in France - just £89! Half Price Golf Vouchers Take 10 shots off your scores! Best Value Golf Insurance

Laura Diaz leads with opening round of 65

American Laura Diaz shot a six-under-par 65 to seize the early advantage on Thursday at the 2.25 million dollar Canadian Women's Open.

"I had a lot of putts that were about 15 feet, and I managed to make the majority of them; and then I had a couple six footers that I was able to make, as well," Diaz said.

Diaz, who had finished 12th or better in three straight tournaments to end July before missing the cut at the Women's British Open at St. Andrews two weeks ago, is seeking her first tour victory since 2002 and the third of her career.

After starting off with a two-under 34 on the back nine, Diaz scorched the greens at the Royal Mayfair Country Club by shooting a 31 on the front nine to wrap up her day.

She finished with three birdies on the last four holes to complete her bogey-free round.

Kelli Kuehne and South Korea's Kyeong Bae are tied for second place, one shot behind Diaz at 5-under.

Kuehne has missed the cut in four straight and seven of her last eight tournaments while Bae is searching for her fourth top-10 finish of the season and the first tour victory of her career.

"Have you seen my year?" Kuehne said. "It's the first round and (the tournament) takes four days. I'm certainly not even remotely planning on getting ahead of myself. It's a great round and a good thing for me, but it's one day."

The world's top-ranked player, Lorena Ochoa, shot a 1-under 70 after missing this tournament last year. Fresh off winning her first major title - she won the British Open on August 5 - Ochoa is looking to add to her tour-leading four wins and 14 top-10 finishes in 17 events.

"I hit the ball really good (but) not so good with my driver and it was kind of an up-and-down round, but I'm pleased I finished in the red numbers," Ochoa said.

Cristie Kerr, who won this event in astounding fashion last year when she overcame an eight-shot, final-round deficit to beat Angela Stanford by one stroke, shot a 2-under 69 to finish the day in three-way tie for 14th place.