Keating leads Buick Championship after birdie blitz

Stacey Keating came out firing on all cylinders at the Buick Championship on Thursday as the Australian carded a nine-under 63 to take a two-shot lead in the first round of the China LPGA Tour-Ladies European Tour co-sponsored event.

China's Feng Shanshan, the world No. 5 and top-ranked player in the field, was two shots back in second after a 65 in the 600,000-US-dollar tournament at Shanghai Qizhong Garden Golf Club. Lin Xiyu, the China No. 2, was third, a shot back at 66, while compatriot Li Dan was in equal fourth with South Korean Jang So-young and Chinese Taipei's Kuo Ai-chen at 68.

Playing among the final groups of the day, the Melbourne-based Keating scorched the field with five birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 31. After a bogey-five at the 10th hole for her only dropped shot of the day, she then reeled off four consecutive birdies starting from the 11th hole. A late birdie at the par-five 17th opened up her lead and put her in contention for her third LET circuit win.

"I never expect this, it was nice," said the 28-year-old of her lowest tournament round as a professional. "I hit the ball nice from the tee to the green and I holed a lot of putts. But it's only day one and I can only try my best."

Keating, whose best finish so far this season was an equal 25th at the New Zealand Women's Open, said she had been playing okay but wanted to raise her game.

"I had a good Aussie summer. It was okay, but not exciting. I'm just looking forward to more tournaments. I haven't won in three years and that a long time ago now."

Feng, the US LPGA Tour regular who was playing in her first China event of the year, started her round from the back nine. She carded a bogey-free round that included five birdies and an eagle-three on the par-five 13th hole after her 60-foot putt found the cup.

"Seven-under is a good score for me to start," said Guangdong native Feng, a winner of 13 pro tournaments worldwide. She predicted a score of 15-under would win the tournament.

"The audience wants to see the players drop birdies, and I shot an eagle. They don't want to see the players struggle. I think in these condition of this golf course, because they watered the greens, they were soft so the players could make more birdies."

Lin had a chance to have second place alone after getting to eight-under through 16 holes. However, she unraveled at her last hole (the ninth) when she was distracted by a spectator talking and put her tee shot in the water.

The Guangzhou native credited her strong play to being home after struggling in the early season stateside during her second year on the US LPGA Tour.

"It's a good day today. I didn't do well the last two weeks at the LPGA and missed two cuts," said the 19-year-old Lin. "On Monday, I flew to Beijing to see my coach, Andrew Park, and I did some change on my swing. I didn't imagine today I could have so much birdies because I really shot not that close to the holes. I made other birdies from three to five yards, so my putting is really doing good."

Victoria Lovelady won a Buick GL8 minivan worth 63,000 dollars for a hole-in-one. The Brazilian, who got into the tournament on a sponsor's exemption, achieved the feat using a hybrid five-wood on the 187-yard, 16th hole. Endi