Scotland's Kathryn Marshall and South Korea's Minny Yeo share the lead at the Big Apple Classic in New York after shooting opening rounds of 68.

Yeo, playing only her ninth round on the LPGA Tour this year, shot five birdies in a tournament which she only qualified for after compatriot Se Ri Pak withdrew.

"All day, I was pretty far from the pin, so I made a lot of good putts," Yeo said. "But some of the greens were very smooth and it wasn't that slow."

Marshall, who teed-off at the 10th, finished with a birdie at the ninth after disappointing bogeys at the two previous holes.

Marshall has missed four cuts in a row after finishing 13th in France.

The pair lead Italy's Silvia Cavalleri and Americans Kris Tschetter, Kelli Kuehne and Sherri Steinhauer by one stroke.

"That birdie at the ninth was a huge boost for me," Marshall admitted. "It was good to come back to be joint leader after I almost let it slip away."

Australia's Karrie Webb was among 10 players who share seventh place after shooting 70 while Sweden's Annika Sorenstam is another stroke back.

Leading first round scores from the Sybase Big Apple Classic, Wykagyl Country Club, New Rochelle, New York (Par 71, USA unless stated):

68: Kathryn Marshall (Gbr), Minny Yeo (Kor)
69: Silvia Cavalleri (Ita), Kelli Kuehne, Sherri Steinhauer, Kris Tschetter
70: Beth Bauer, Michelle Bell, Hee-Won Han (Kor), Stephanie Keever, Candie Kung (Tai), Leta Lindley, Meg Mallon, Joan Pitcock, Jennifer Rosales, Karrie Webb (Aus), Jean Zedlitz
71: Dina Ammaccapane, Tina Barrett, Patricia Baxter-Johnson, Stefania Croce (Ita), Sally Dee, Dorothy Delasin, Alicia Dibos, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Natalie Gulbis, Chris Johnson, Shiho Katano (Jpn), Siew-Ai Lim (Mal), Gloria Park (Kor), Cindy Rarick, Michele Redman, Patti Rizzo, Kelly Robbins, Kim Saiki, Nancy Scranton, Annika Sorenstam (Swe), Rachel Teske (Aus), Carri Wood
72: Luciana Bemvenuti, Angela Buzminski, Diana D'Alessio, Annette DeLuca, Laura Diaz, Moira Dunn, Michelle Estill, Tracy Hanson, Jennifer Hubbard, Lorie Kane (Can), Ara Koh (Kor), Mardi Lunn (Aus), Mhairi McKay (Gbr), Becky Morgan (Gbr), Vickie Odegard, Julie Piers, Amy Read, Kim Williams
73: Beth Daniel, Allison Finney, Amy Fruhwirth, Jackie Gallagher-Smith, Jane Geddes, Kate Golden, Jamie Hullett, Hiromi Kobayashi (Jpn), Jenny Lidback (Per), Catriona Matthew (Gbr), Jill McGill, Catrin Nilsmark (Swe), Namika Omata (Jpn), Fiona Pike (Aus), Laurie Rinker-Graham, Cindy Schreyer, Giulia Sergas (Ita).