Kim on top in Alabama

Maria Hjorth is eight shots off the pace

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Korea's Mi Hyun Kim soared to a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the opening round of the AFLAC Champions tournament in Alabama.

The 65 was one shot off the course record, set by Sweden's Maria Hjorth in 1999 and matched a year later by Sherri Steinhauer.

"Since last week, I've had a really good putting stroke and swing, so I was able to get the feeling memorised and I was able to execute really well," Kim said.

"My nine and seven woods were very accurate, so I was able to go at the pin every time and I had a birdie chance every hole."

Former champion Dottie Pepper was always in touch of the leader, until a bogey on the 18th left her with a 67.

"I actually played that hole well last year," Pepper said.

"I was a smidge in the rough and was between clubs. I hit it a little thin and actually made a good five there.

" I hit a great shot from a tough lie. You just have to take advantage of the par-fives out there, and I think I did that today and got almost all of them."

Defending champion Karrie Webb of Australia, Charlotta Sorenstam of Sweden and Grace Park of Korea are tied for third after three-under 69s.

The event is the first of six limited-field events. Only active LPGA Hall of Famers and tournament winners from the past three seasons were invited.

Scores after first round

65 Mi Hyun Kim (Kor)

67 Dottie Pepper

69 - Grace Park (Kor), Kelly Robbins, Charlotta Sorenstam (Swe), Karrie Webb (Aus)

70 Emilee Klein, Carin Koch (Swe), Se Ri Pak (Kor), Rachel Teske (Aus)

71 Wendy Doolan (Aus), Kate Golden, Juli Inkster, Meg Mallon, Sherri Steinhauer

72 Beth Daniel, Dorothy Delasin, Lorie Kane (Can), Catriona Matthew (Gbr)

73 Tina Fischer, Sophie Gustafson (Swe), Maria Hjorth (Swe), Rosie Jones, Betsy King, Janice Moodie Gbr), Michele Redman, Nancy Scranton

74 JoAnne Carner, Laura Davies (Gbr), Jackie Gallagher-Smith, Mardi Lunn (Aus), Catrin Nilsmark (Swe)

75 Laurel Kean, Kelli Kuehne

76 Heather Daly-Donofrio, Wendy Ward

77 Alison Nicholas (Gbr), Gloria Park (Kor)

79 Nancy Lopez

80 Amy Alcott
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