CLIFTON, N.J. — Had it not been for been Sarah Lee, defending champion Lorena Ochoa would be atop the leaderboard again at the Sybase Classic.

Lee shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Ochoa and four others after the first round of the $1.4 million Sybase Classic on Thursday.

Future Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak, up-and-coming Brittany Lincicome, rookie Angela Park and Hye Jung Choi joined Ochoa at 68, a shot ahead of three others

"I've been close in the last few weeks, and this will be a nice week," said Ochoa, who hasn't won since supplanting Annika Sorenstam as the top-ranked player last month. "It's important to be in a good position and to give myself a chance on Sunday and hopefully it will happen."