BALTIMORE, August 7, 2014 (AFP) - Gal, who has missed the cut in three of her last four starts, is aiming for her second win on the LPGA Tour. Her only title came at the 2011 Kia Classic.
Former world number one Park In-Bee, of South Korea, posted a five-under 66 during her opening round at Blythefield Country Club and is in sole possession of second place. Katherine Kirk is in third at four-under 67.
Lee Il-Hee, Azahara Munoz, Katy Harris, Gerina Piller, Amy Yang and Line Vedel shot matching three-under 68s to share fourth place.
Michelle Wie, who captured her first major title at the US Women's Open earlier this season, pulled out during the first round because of a hand injury.
"I don't know what happened," said Wie. "It just started hurting last week and just started getting worse and got to the point where I couldn't really hold a club today.
"So I'm just going to try to get an MRI right now and see what my next steps are. Hopefully I can play next week, so we'll see."
Leading scores on Thursday from the first round of the LPGA Meijer Classic (USA unless stated, par-71):
65 - Sandra Gal (GER)
66 - Inbee Park (KOR)
67 - Katherine Kirk (AUS)
68 - Amy Yang (KOR), Gerina Piller, Azahara Munoz (ESP), Ilhee Lee (KOR), Katy Harris, Line Vedel (DEN)
69 - Suzann Pettersen (NOR), Lindsey Wright (AUS), Karine Icher (FRA), Paula Creamer, Sydnee Michaels, Shanshan Feng (CHN), Jaye Marie Green, Caroline Masson (GER), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (GBR), Brianna Do, Lydia Ko (NZL)