By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Unheralded Min Na-on took the first-round lead at the Kia Classic Friday (KST), as South Korean golfers dominated the leaderboard.
The 21-year-old fired a bogey-free 6 under-66 to edge compatriot Choi Na-yeon by one shot in the inaugural LPGA tournament in California.
Former U.S. Women's Open champion Park In-bee and four-time Tour winner Lee Seon-hwa tied for third with reigning Women's British Open champion Catriona Matthew of Scotland two shots off the lead, while Kim In-kyung shared sixth place at 69.
KLPGA Player of the Year Seo Hee-kyung, who competed on a sponsor's exemption, and Yi Eun-jung finished with a 2-under to tie for eighth along with world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa of Mexico.
Min, who started the opening round on the back nine, picked up an early birdie on the 11th hole and sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the 13th.
``It was about 15 meters, so pretty long. And I made it and it feels really good,'' said Min, whose career-best result was third place at the LPGA Championship in 2007 after joining the top professional women's golf circuit on the same year.
``I felt pretty good on my putting today. It was the best thing.''
She also made two straight birdies at Nos. 16 and 17 before wrapping up the front nine.
After the turn, Min, whose wrist injury ruled her out of the field since the Corning Classic last May, continued her solid run, saving seven straight pars, before holing in her second back-to-back birdies on the 7th and 8th holes.
Last season's best rookie award winner Shin Ji-yai and Michelle Wie were in a 13-way tie for 24th at 72.
Ai Miyazato of Japan, who became the first LPGA Tour golfer in 44 years to open the season with two straight victories after triumphing at the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand and HSBC Women's Champions, is tied for 59th at 74