LPGA Tour report and scores
Moriya enjoys a change of luck ... so far
FROM GOLFWEEK.COM
Moriya Jutanugarn and Minjee Lee each shot 4-under 68 to take a share of the first round lead at the Lotte Championship in Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii on Wednesday.
Defending champ Sei Young Kim is in a five-way tie for third one stroke back of the leaders. Tied at 3 under with Kim are Alena Sharp, Brooke MacKenzie Henderson, Caroline Masson and Kim Kaufman.
Jutanugarn, ranked 123rd in the Rolex Rankings, has yet to record a top-25 finish this season and has missed the cut in her last two tournaments.
Coming off two consecutive victories, world No. 1 Lydia Ko is three strokes back of the leaders in T-13 after a 1-under 71. Lexi Thompson struggled to a 3-over 75 and is T-78 heading into the second round.
Inbee Park, who has finished T4-3-2, in her last three trips to Ko Olina is T-64 t
Kim has enjoyed her week in Hawaii as the defending champion.
“When I walk on the course a lot of memory coming at me,” Kim said with a smile. “So, yeah, very comfortable. Then, yeah, give me a lot of energy, that memory.”
“It was really tough,” Henderson admitted. “The wind has been my big challenge. But it was a lot of fun. Going into today I just wanted to see the wind as something exciting and something to really play well in, and I did that so far.”
Last year Henderson was attempting to Monday Qualify for this event and missed out. The 18-year-old Canadian comes into the event a year later as an LPGA Tour winner who ranks seventh in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“Last year in the qualifier it wasn’t that windy, so coming here this year it was kind of a little bit of a shock to see how windy it actually is.”
As she has for most of the season, Brooke had her sister Brittany on the bag.
“I think Brit and I did a really good job today of calculating wind and knowing where to land the ball. I think if can just we continue to do that, be a good next three days.”
“It was pretty windy. I hit a lot of good shots. I just tried to really have a good number on every hole and stick to that number and just put a good swing on it and see where it went. Luckily a few putts rolled in. It was tough, but it was a good day.”
Fellow Hawaiians Allisen Corpuz and Michelle Wie didn’t fare as well, shooting 77 and 80 respectively.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
FROM GOLFWEEK.COM
Moriya Jutanugarn and Minjee Lee each shot 4-under 68 to take a share of the first round lead at the Lotte Championship in Ko Olina, Oahu, Hawaii on Wednesday.
Defending champ Sei Young Kim is in a five-way tie for third one stroke back of the leaders. Tied at 3 under with Kim are Alena Sharp, Brooke MacKenzie Henderson, Caroline Masson and Kim Kaufman.
Jutanugarn, ranked 123rd in the Rolex Rankings, has yet to record a top-25 finish this season and has missed the cut in her last two tournaments.
Coming off two consecutive victories, world No. 1 Lydia Ko is three strokes back of the leaders in T-13 after a 1-under 71. Lexi Thompson struggled to a 3-over 75 and is T-78 heading into the second round.
Inbee Park, who has finished T4-3-2, in her last three trips to Ko Olina is T-64 t
Sei Young Kim who used five birdies against two bogeys to post 3-under, 69
“I like to play windy, because if into the wind I can hit the cut shot,” Kim said. “Even if the left to right wind, my nature fly right hook, so it’s easy today. Yeah, so very comfortable today.”Kim has enjoyed her week in Hawaii as the defending champion.
“When I walk on the course a lot of memory coming at me,” Kim said with a smile. “So, yeah, very comfortable. Then, yeah, give me a lot of energy, that memory.”
Brooke MacKenzie Henderson in the hunt
Brooke MacKenzie Henderson, the Canadian who is proud of her Scottish ancestors, sits one back of the lead after firing an opening round 69“It was really tough,” Henderson admitted. “The wind has been my big challenge. But it was a lot of fun. Going into today I just wanted to see the wind as something exciting and something to really play well in, and I did that so far.”
Last year Henderson was attempting to Monday Qualify for this event and missed out. The 18-year-old Canadian comes into the event a year later as an LPGA Tour winner who ranks seventh in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“Last year in the qualifier it wasn’t that windy, so coming here this year it was kind of a little bit of a shock to see how windy it actually is.”
As she has for most of the season, Brooke had her sister Brittany on the bag.
“I think Brit and I did a really good job today of calculating wind and knowing where to land the ball. I think if can just we continue to do that, be a good next three days.”
Kono leads local players on Day One
Stephanie Kono shot an even par 72 to lead the group of three Hawaiians in the field.“It was pretty windy. I hit a lot of good shots. I just tried to really have a good number on every hole and stick to that number and just put a good swing on it and see where it went. Luckily a few putts rolled in. It was tough, but it was a good day.”
Fellow Hawaiians Allisen Corpuz and Michelle Wie didn’t fare as well, shooting 77 and 80 respectively.
FIRST ROUND SCOREBOARD
LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY (Apr 13 - 16)
- Course: Ko Olina Golf Club
- Par: 72
- Yardage: 6,383
Labels: LPGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
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