Hye-Jin Choi leads Dana Open, Stephanie Meadow in touch

Hye-Jin Choi of South Korea birdied her final two holes to post a 7-under-par 64 and take the first-round lead at the Dana Open, with Ireland's Stephanie Meadow in contention.

Choi, who started her day on the back nine at Highland Meadows Golf Club, rolled in birdies at the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth holes to move to 7under. That gave her a one-shot lead over Aditi Ashok of India and Xiyu Lin of China.

Meadow, starting on the back nine, had the perfect start with a birdie on her opening hole. She continued to impress, making the turn at -3 but was unable to improve on that with a birdie and a bogey on her way to the clubhouse.

Two shots ahead of Meadow at 5-under 66 are South Africa's Paula Reto and a pair of Thai players, Chanettee Wannasaen and Natthakritta Vongtaveelap.

Choi, 24, has 12 victories to her name on the Korean LPGA Tour but is trying to break through for her first win stateside.

Choi, 24, has 12 victories to her name on the Korean LPGA Tour but is trying to break through for her first win stateside.

She kept a bogey-free card Thursday but did all her scoring over the final 11holes after opening with seven pars in a row. She birdied Nos. 17, 18, 1 and 2to kick into gear.

"It was really great day," Choi said. "I mean, I start a little weird, like my shot was not really great, so I try just ... make the par. Try to like until(her seventh hole) and then I make the birdie on 8, so I think, 'Oh, I can do very better.'"

Choi is coming off a T7 finish at last week's major in France, the Evian Championship.

Ashok, a five-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, is also in search of her first LPGA win. She posted three birdies on each nine without a bogey.

"I think I really like the golf course," Ashok said. "It's something