String of birdies boosts Stacy Lewis into first-round lead at LPGA Classic

BEIJING -- Top-ranked Stacy Lewis birdied five holes on the back nine to shoot a 7-under 66 in the first round of the Reignwood LPGA Classic on Thursday.

The American had seven birdies in her bogey-free round and was one stroke ahead of Caroline Hedwall of Sweden.

Lewis is back in Beijing to try to win the tournament she narrowly lost a year before. She led for most of the final round by one stroke before Chinese golfer Shanshan Feng eagled the par-5 18th hole to win. Lewis finished second.

Photos: Thursday's action from the Reignwood LPGA Classic, Dunhill Links Championship

South Korean players Sun Young Yoo and Jenny Shin were tied for third place at 68 after Thursday's first round.

Former No. 1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan found some of her old form to shoot a 4-under 69. The five-time major winner has only had two top-10 finishes this year, causing her ranking to slip to No. 66.

Tseng was in a group of six golfers that also included four-time major winner Inbee Park of South Korea.

Feng, the defending champion, had three bogeys on the front nine to finish in a share of 52nd place at 2-over 75.