RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. – Brittany Lincicome never saw a 66 coming in the first round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Likewise, defending champion Lorena Ochoa wasn’t expecting to open with a 73 when she headed out onto the same desert course where she was 11 strokes better three years ago.

Lincicome held a one-stroke lead in the first LPGA Tour major of the year Thursday with her 6-under 66 at Mission Hills.

Pushed along by playing partner Ji Young Oh in a round she likened to match play, Lincicome hit 16 greens in regulation. Oh hit 14 greens and was tied for second at 67 with Angela Stanford and Brittany Lang.

Lincicome’s best finish in a major was a tie for second here two years ago.

Ochoa struggled with her driver. The top-ranked Mexican star started on the 10th tee and was 2 under at the turn before carding three bogeys and no birdies on the front nine.

Three years ago, Ochoa opened with a 62 at Mission Hills to tie an LPGA major championship record.

Michelle Wie finished the opening round at 71 – in a tie for 18th.

Shell Houston Open

HUMBLE, Texas – The first round of the Shell Houston Open was suspended because of high wind with only half the 144-player field on the course.

The round will resume on Friday morning.

A morning thunderstorm postponed the start of the tournament by 21/2 hours. Play was then stopped at 12:50 p.m. because of wind that was strong enough to move balls on the slippery greens before players could mark them. The round was suspended for the day at 3 p.m. after wind gusts reached 50 mph.

Lee Westwood shot a 4-under 32 on the front nine to take a two-shot lead before the horns sounded across the course.

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