Hoylake, England (Sports Network) - So Yeon Ryu and Haeji Kang battled the elements on Thursday to share the first-round lead of the Women's British Open.

The pair shot matching 2-under 70s Thursday at a windy, difficult Royal Liverpool, the site of the season's final major championship.

Jiyai Shin, the 2008 Women's British champion, survived a 9-hole playoff Monday at the Kingsmill Championship and came out in round one with a 1-under 71.

Karrie Webb, a 7-time major winner and 2002 winner of this championship at Turnberry, also had a 71 on Thursday.

The pair is knotted in third place with Ai Miyazato, 16-year-old English amateur Charley Hill, Vicky Hurst, Katie Futcher, Mika Miyazato, Stacey Keating and Lydia Hall.

Two-time defending champion Yani Tseng opened with an even-par 72 and is part of a large group tied for 12th place.

Cristie Kerr, Angela Stanford, Evian Masters winner Inbee Park, Morgan Pressel and Lydia Ko, the 15-year-old amateur who became the youngest winner in LPGA Tour history a few weeks ago when she won the Canadian Women's Open, are part of a large group tied with Tseng.

MORE TO FOLLOW.

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