Gulbis leads LPGA event in Mexico

Natalie Gulbis shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the Corona Morelia Championship, while Lorena Ochoa struggled to a 71 in her second LPGA Tour event in her homeland.

Sweden's Carin Koch was two strokes back at 68 along with Audra Burks. Burks had an eagle, three birdies and a bogey.

Nancy Scranton offset three bogeys with six birdies and was tied for fourth place with Sweden's Maria Hjorth and Italy's Giulia Sergas at 69 on the Tres Marias Residential Golf Club course in Morelia, Mexico.

The 22-year-old Gulbis started on the back nine and, after opening with a par, reeled off three straight birdies. She added three more after making the turn, using a long, accurate drives to stay out of trouble.

"I'm very fortunate that I have good distance off the tee, and that definitely helped on a golf course like this one," said Gulbis, whose six birdies came on putts of less than 10 feet. "I had a lot of wedges today ... and you can fire at pins when you have short wedges in your hand."

Gulbis, looking for her first victory in her fourth LPGA season, said she's been in the lead on tour "six to 10 times."

"It's not a lot of pressure, but there are very good players on tour," she said.

Ochoa was the story heading into the event. She won twice last year to become the LPGA Tour's first Mexican champion and is trying for the second time to win in her homeland.

The 23-year-old native of Guadalajara, just 175 miles from colonial Morelia, is tied for 28th and is very familiar with the layout.

"The first round is the hardest one, so I'm over with that," Ochoa said. "I know where I am right now and I think I'm going to feel more relaxed tomorrow. The good thing is I know the course, I know the leaders, how they play."

PGA Tour

Fresh from inclusion in the World Golf Hall of Fame, Vijay Singh tied the course record with an 8-under-par 64 for a one-shot lead Thursday after the first round of the Houston Open.

The 42-year-old Fijian, No. 2 in the world rankings, extended his streak of par or better to 56 holes at the Redstone Golf Club, where he won this event a year ago.

Singh laughed when told of his bogey-free string going back to last year, when he finished 11 under and won by two shots.

"Don't mention that," he said. "I struck the ball really well today, had a very good feel of the greens and my speed was good, and when you do that you can make some birdies."

After Singh came Australians Gavin Coles and Brendan Jones. Eight players were at 67. Six others, including John Daly, were another shot back.

Singh was announced Wednesday as the latest inductee into the Hall of Fame, although he said he learned three weeks ago the honor was coming, meaning it wasn't a distraction now.

"My focus this week is coming out here," he said.