PORTLAND, August 20, 2011 (AFP) - Choi Na-yeon found her comfort level playing alongside a familiar face in the opening round of the LPGA Tour's Safeway Classic on Friday.
Choi fired a six-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead over Grace Park going into Saturday's second round at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
And her threesome included South Korean compatriot and training partner Kim Song-hee. The two share the same coach and have been friends since they were kids.
"She's my best friend, I think we really know each other, so I was very comfortable to play with her," Choi said.
Choi, a runner-up to Japan's Ai Miyazato in last year's event, made seven consecutive birdies but had a stumble on the par-four 18th where she had a double bogey.
But, ever the competitor, she wants to tackle the hole again in the 54-hole tournament that wraps up Sunday.
"I'd like to go back to the 18th hole, really," she said.
Choi's childhood pal Kim shot a two-over 73 and is tied for 43rd.
Park was two shots adrift with a 67, while Se Ri Pak, Anna Nordqvist, M.J. Hur and Ashli Bunch shot 68s.
Park is playing in her ninth tournament of the year but has missed the cut in the last two.
"Right now I'm healthy as I've been in 10 years," she said.
Miyazato fired a 70 on Friday and world number one Tseng Yani started her tournament with a 72. Tseng recently won her fifth career Grand Slam.
Leading first round scores in the LPGA's Safeway Classic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club Friday (par 72):
65 - Choi Na-yeon (KOR)
67 - Grace Park (KOR)
68 - Se Ri Pak (KOR), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), MJ Hur (KOR), Ashli Bunch (USA)
69 - Stacy Lewis (USA), Kang Jimin (KOR), Wendy Ward (USA), Suzann Pettersen (NOR)
70 - Brittany Lang (USA), Ai Miyazato (JPN), Karrie Webb (AUS), Chella Choi (KOR), Mollie Fankhauser (USA), Alison Walshe (USA), Sarah Kemp (AUS)
71 - Park Hee-young (KOR), Vicky Hurst (USA), Amy Hung (TPE), Seo Hee-kyung (KOR), Ryann O'Toole (USA), Marcy Hart (USA)
72 - Lindsey Wright (AUS), Gerina Piller (USA), Mika Miyazato (JPN), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Shin Jiyai (KOR), Brittany Lincicome (USA), Paula Creamer (USA), Lorie Kane (CAN), Mindy Kim (USA), Sandra Gal (GER), Tseng Yani (TPE), Meena Lee (KOR), Candie Kung (TPE), Stacy Prammanasudh (USA), Beth Bader (USA), Jennifer Johnson (USA), Christine Song (USA), Alena Sharp (CAN), Jennifer Song (USA), Lisa Meldrum (CAN)