Oh and Hurst set Open pace

EDINA, Minnesota (Reuters) - South Korean teenager Oh Ji-young upstaged the game's biggest names by grabbing a share of the first-round lead at the U.S. Women's Open on Thursday.

In mainly overcast morning conditions at Interlachen Country Club, the 19-year-old set the pace with a six-under-par 67 before being matched late in the day by American Pat Hurst.

Kim Song-hee, another 19-year-old Korean, also got to six under in the third women's major of the season before bogeying the 17th on her way to a 68 on a sun-drenched afternoon.

Swede Louise Friberg, Korean Shin Ji-yai and Colombian amateur Maria Jose Uribe opened with 69s while 1987 champion Laura Davies of Britain was one of five players who returned 70s.

World number one Lorena Ochoa, seeking her third major victory in four starts, birdied three of the last five holes for a 73 but American teenager Michelle Wie slumped to an 81.

Oh, who missed the cut on her U.S. Women's Open debut last year, delivered a master-class on approach play while piling up seven birdies and one bogey, signing off with a six-footer to birdie her final hole.

"My favorite clubs are the driver and short irons and today I hit a lot of greens and I hit the fairways too," the bespectacled Korean told reporters, speaking through an interpreter.

"So more easy for me today. I had several birdie putts from one or two feet and my longest was maybe 12 feet at the 17th. I played very well."

Hurst, who lost to Annika Sorenstam in a playoff for the 2006 U.S. Women's Open, joined Oh at the top of the leaderboard after recovering from a scrappy start.

"I got frustrated a little bit in the beginning and I was one over after five," the 39-year-old said. "I was whining to my caddie and then next thing you know I knock in a birdie putt and it just turned it all around there.

PLAYING EASY

"There was never a point where I felt like I was going to go low but I just played it hole by hole," added Hurst, who eagled the par-five second after her second shot to 15 feet.

"When you're hitting the ball well and putting well, it seems like the golf course is playing pretty easy."

U.S. Amateur champion Uribe relished playing in a high-profile group with Mexican Ochoa and champion Cristie Kerr (72).

"I love to have people giving me energy," the 18-year-old said after collecting six birdies and two bogeys. "I knew I could play under pressure after winning the U.S. Amateur and I love to play with Lorena. It was a great experience."

Ochoa, who won this year's first major, the Kraft Nabisco Championship, by five shots, was satisfied with her level-par start.

"We all know anything around par for the U.S. Open is always good," the 26-year-old said. "I'm a little bit disappointed I didn't take advantage of the great conditions but I'm still in it and that's what's important."

Three-times champion Sorenstam, making her swansong appearance at the tournament, carded a 75 after squandering a promising start.

"I made a few mistakes in the middle of the round but I played some good golf today," the former world number one said after making two birdies in the first seven holes.

"I didn't deviate from my plan and I played very smart, I thought. Just a few putts go in it would have been a different story."

Of the other big names, Norwegian world number three Suzann Pettersen battled to a 77 and fifth-ranked Australian Karrie Webb returned a 75.

(Editing by Martin Petty)