PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The next step for Angela Park, the 2007 LPGA Rookie of the Year, is to win a tournament. The 19-year-old Korean headed that way Friday with a first-round 6-under par 66 for to take a one-stroke lead at the Safeway Classic at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.

Park, who had a bogey-free, six-birdie round, leads a group of six at 67. Twenty-three players are within three shots of the lead, including defending champion Lorena Ochoa.

In 48 career starts on the LPGA Tour, Park has two runner-up finishes, the Evian Masters in July and the 2007 U.S. Women's Open.

Park admits when it comes to winning, she's caught between eagerness and patience.

"I tell myself that I'm always going to be patient," she said. "I'm eager to get my first win, but just because of eagerness doesn't mean my first win is not going to come. When it's my time, it will happen."

Trailing Park by one stroke heading into the second round of this 54-hole tournament are Kelli Kuehne, Hee Young Park, Song-Hee Kim, Sophie Gustafson, Helen Alfredsson and Karen Stupples.

Two strokes back at 68 are Stephanie Louden, Liz Janangelo, Becky Morgan, Katie Futcher and Hee-Won Han. Kuehne's 67 puts her in the rare position of contending. She has had a rough season in 2008, missing the cut in 12 of her past 14 tournaments.

More of the same seemed a possibility when Kuehne made double bogey at the first, and found herself 3-over through five holes. Kuehne wiped out the slow start and more by making birdies on eight of her final 13 holes.

"I got off to a rocky start, my caddy Nick just said, 'Let's regroup,' " said Kuehne, who hasn't won a tour event since 1999.

"I started driving some good shots. The course is perfect as usual, so I had some opportunities."

Gustafson finds herself in a familiar position with the six-way tie for second place. Last year Gustafson was among four players to finish in second behind Ochoa.

Gustafson said her recent success at tree-lined Columbia Edgewater surprises her.

"It's really a tight course and that's not my specialty, but it's really a nice course and I always enjoy coming here," said Gustafson, who like Angela Park, didn't make a bogey Friday.

Ochoa was among 11, including Paula Creamer and Leta Lindley, at 69. Ochoa, birdied the final three holes to put herself into contention, capping her round with a 50-foot putt at 18. "That was probably one of the best finishes to a round," Ochoa said. I'm happy with that because I'm in the tournament. It would be hard to be at even par."

U.S. Women's Open champion Inbee Park and Karrie Webb were among those to shoot 70. Katherine Hull, who won the Canadian Women's Open on Sunday, shot a first-round 71. Annika Sorenstam, a two-time Safeway Classic winner, birdied her final hole to shoot 72. Pat Hurst, who won the 2006 Safeway, shot 75.

There was speculation heading into the tournament as to how difficult Columbia Edgewater would play because of recent heavy rain.

With the course drying out from Fridays 80-degree temperatures, 55 in the 150-player field broke par. Creamer said the toughest part was adjusting to the greens." It's pretty wet out there, but not as bad as I had thought. The greens are incredibly fast for how wet they are," Creamer said. "The first couple holes I struggled with my speed."

The $1.7 million Safeway Classic, the longest running non-major on the LPGA Tour, attracted a field that includes 28 of the seasons top 30 money earners. First prize is $255,000.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.