Kraft Nabisco Championship: Mika Miyazato shares lead

Mika Miyazato has tied Sandra Gal as the clubhouse leader during the first round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.

Miyazato birdied the par-three 17th hole (her drive landed six feet from the cup, the putt was perfect) to finish at five-under par 67. Miyazato is playing the season's first major for the third time; her best finish was last year, a tie for 40th.

Miyazato, 21, is one of a trio of Japanese LPGA players (along with Ai Miyazato, who is no relation to Mika, and Momoko Ueda) who have designed a logo they are wearing on their golf hats to show solidarity with Japan as the country recovers from this month's earthquake, tsunami and nuclear-reactor damage.

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Kraft Nabisco Championship: Sandra Gal posts score to shoot for

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: Mika Miyazato of Japan plays her third shot on the 9th hole during the first round of the 2011 Kraft Nabisco Championship on the Dinah Shore Championship Course at the Mission Hills Country Club on March 31, 2011 in Rancho Mirage, California. Credit: David Cannon / Getty Images