Sorenstam shares lead

Thursday, November 4th 2004, 7:50 pm

By: News On 6

OTSU, Japan (AP) _ Annika Sorenstam started her quest for a fourth consecutive Mizuno Classic title with an eagle and held a share of the lead after the first round. The top-ranked Swede carded a 63 and was tied with Japan's Chihiro Nakajima at 9-under at the one (M) million dollar L-P-G-A Tour event.

Sorenstam opened with an eagle at the par-five first and had seven birdies in a bogey-free round. Nakajima fired a 30 on the back nine, including six birdies. The pair was three strokes ahead of Rachel Teske and Aree Song at 66.

Laura Davies, Karrie Webb, South Koreans Grace Park and Han Hee-won and Mexico's Lorena Ochoa were one stroke further back at 5-under 67.