Webb, Donna Andrews and next week's US Solheim Cup team-mates Juli Inkster and Rosie Jones all carded a five-under-par 67.

Six players are a shot further back with 68, including Inkster and Jones's Solheim Cup colleague Kelly Robbins, with ten standing on 69, three-under.

Jones admitted: "It's hard to tell whether this week is an indication because you have some players who maybe are not playing great this week are going to hopefully play great next week.

"You just never know."

Inkster would have led outright if it were not for a final-hole bogey.

"You always hate to bogey the last hole," she said.

"I was struggling with my swing a little bit and I thought I hit the ball better today," she said. "I putted well and it was kind of a good, solid round."

Three Europeans carded 69s, the only team-members to break par.

England's Laura Davies and Swedish duo Annika Sorenstam and Suzann Petterssen are all now two shots behind the leading quarter

Sorenstam is seeking a LPGA Tour-leading eighth title of the season.

Lopez bow

The tournament is also the last as a full-time LPGA Tour player for Hall of Famer and three-time Classic winner, Nancy Lopez.

"She's been a leader out here for a long time," Inkster said.

"I know she's not going to 'retire' retire. She'll be out here a little bit. But we're going to miss her out here full time, that's for sure."

Webb added: "I don't think anybody could be a Nancy Lopez, but strive to be similar in ways to her.

"Then I think the tour would be in good shape."

Andrews, who is not in the US Solheim Cup team, admitted there was a strange almosphere after last year's Classic was cancelled in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks.

"It's still sort of eerie," Andrews said.

"You see the fighter planes go out and it's a constant reminder of what happened when you see those going out fully loaded."