“Playing Big Games Is My Thing”

Ahn Shi-hyun, 23, who is now on the LPGA tour, often appears in the newspaper as an advertising model for a leisure company selling memberships for overseas resorts.

This time she got a chance to grab attention with golf, her real job.

Ahn took the first-round lead at the LPGA`s Kraft Nabisco Championship in Rancho Mirage, California on Friday.

She has a one-shot lead over Lorena Ochoa (Mexico), the LPGA Player of the Year, with six birdies and a double bogey on the 4 under par 68.

Ahn came into limelight when she won the championship in the CJ Nine Bridges Classic in October 2005, but she failed to extend her contract with a sponsor, so she went on the tour without one.

She broke into the top 10 during this year’s major season. Last year, she was in the top 10 in three out of four major championships.

“I got better when I began to feel comfortable,” said Ahn.

Lee Ji-young, sponsored by Hi Mart, tied with Karrie Webb (Australia) for third place with a 2 under par 70 score. Han Hee-won, sponsored by FILA Korea, who is now seven months pregnant, and Pak Se-ri, sponsored by CJ, are both tied for tenth place with even-par 72 scores.

kjs0123@donga.com