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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 27, 2008

Hurst, Oh share Open lead with 67s

 •  Wie fires 8-over 81 after a 9 on No. 9
Photo gallery: U.S. Women's Open golf champions

By Doug Ferguson
Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Accurate iron shots helped Ji Young Oh of South Korea make seven birdie putts, all of which were inside 10 feet.

PAUL BATTAGLIA | Associated Press

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Pat Hurst

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EDINA, Minn. — Gathering clouds gave way to sunshine, the first of many surprises yesterday in a U.S. Women's Open that didn't go the way anyone expected, least of all Pat Hurst.

Her day had a happy ending, one last birdie for a 6-under 67 and a share of the lead with Ji Young Oh.

Annika Sorenstam twice made back-to-back bogeys and wound up with a 75, her highest first-round score in a Women's Open since she opened with a 76 in 1992 at Oakmont when she was a 22-year-old amateur.

Lorena Ochoa and Cristie Kerr, who have combined to win three of the last four LPGA majors, played alongside an 18-year-old freshman at UCLA and couldn't keep up. Maria Jose Uribe of Colombia, the Women's Amateur champion, showed passion and fist pumps and hardly any fear on her way to a 4-under 69 that kept the gallery riveted.

Hurst was chewing herself out early in the round, never imagining she would have anything to smile about in the late afternoon sun over Interlachen. She missed yet another short putt — the very reason she hasn't made a cut since the last week in May — and began complaining to her caddie about a vicious cycle she couldn't shake.

"I was whining," she said. "I was being a golfer."

Hurst rolled in a 35-foot birdie out of nowhere that kicked off a stretch of 6-under through seven holes. She looked over at her caddie with surprise and mock disgust, then kept right on rolling.

"It just turned it all around right there," said Hurst, whose previous best round was a 69.

Song-Hee Kim was another shot back after a 68, while Louise Friberg, Ji-Yai Shin and Uribe were at 69. Laura Davies, who won the Open in 1987 and needs one more major to get into the World Golf Hall of Fame, was among those at 70.

Oh didn't have to work hard on the greens. All seven of her birdies were inside 10 feet, and four of them were inside 2 feet.

"I love hitting my drivers and short irons," Oh said. "And for that, I think this golf course suits my game pretty well."

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