Hur, Lewis grab early lead at Yokohama event

Prattville: Stacy Lewis and South Korea`s Hur Mi-Jung share the lead after shooting bogey-free eight-under 64s on Thursday during the opening round of the LPGA Tour`s Yokohama Tire Classic.

American Lewis won this title the last time the tournament was held in 2012. That was one of her 11 USLPGA Tour titles.

"It`s a course I`ve liked from the get-go that you can be fairly aggressive on," Lewis said of the Capitol Hill Golf Club course.

"Especially this year with it a little bit softer you can be aggressive, but you have to hit it to the right sections of the greens."

South Africa`s Paula Reto is alone in third place as she posted a seven-under 65.

Karin Sjodin, Ayako Uehara and Cydney Clanton share fourth place at six-under, while Christina Kim, Kris Tamulis, Yoo Sun-Young, Beatriz Recari and Lee Il-Hee are tied for seventh at five-under 67. Recari shared sixth place at this tournament two years ago.

Lewis parred the par-four 15th, but followed with three straight birdies to close out her bogey-free round.

"I hit my wedges a lot better, which is always a good sign for me," Lewis said. "When my wedges get back on track, that usually gets the entire swing back going in the right direction."

Hur is seeking her second win on the USLPGA Tour. She capped her bogey-free first round with a par on her final hole of the day.

"It was a bogey-free round today. That was my goal for today and I made it," Hur said. "My irons were really working good and also my putter was very good, so everything was perfect for the round."