South Korea's Kim In-kyung seized a share of the first-round lead at the Ginn Tribute by shooting seven-under 65 on Thursday.
Australian Karrie Webb also shot an opening round 65.
Sophie Gustafson of Sweden is alone in third at six-under 66, while last year’s US Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr is tied for fourth with six others, two shots back.
PHOTO: AFP
Kim had a birdie on No. 3 before a bogey on No. 4 dropped her to even par. However, the 29-year-old made four more birdies on the front nine before collecting three after the turn.
“I hit the ball very solid today,” Kim said. “Actually starting last week [at the Corning Classic], I hit the ball very well. Today was the first time working with my new caddie, and it turned out very good.”
The winner of last year’s initial Ginn Tribute, Nicole Castrale is bunched with 16 others in 42nd place at 1-under 71.
Taiwan’s Amy Hung (洪沁慧) and Tseng Ya-ni (曾雅妮) were both at 69, while Candie Kung (龔怡萍) was at 71.
■ WALES OPEN
AFP, NEWPORT, WALES
Australia’s Scott Strange scored a first round 63 to lead the EPGA Wales Open on Thursday, needing just 28 strokes for the second half of the Celtic Manor course.
The 31-year-old Strange birdied seven of the last nine holes in his eight-under-par round to lead by one shot from Italy’s Edoardo Molinari on the Newport course, which is the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup.
British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland could only manage a 70, while the PGA Championship victor of a week ago, Miguel Angel Jimenez, had to pull out midway through his round with a left knee problem.
Strange’s round actually began on the long 11th because of the layout of the course and, after grabbing a birdie at his second hole, he then finished the inward half with five more in a row. After covering the front nine in 35 he then completed his day’s work with a two on the 210-yard 10th.
The European Tour record for nine holes is 27 — five players have done that, including Robert Lee on two occasions — but Strange would not have been added to that list if he improved his score by one because placing was allowed on the wet fairways.
■ MEMORIAL
AFP, DUBLIN, OHIO
Mathew Goggin shot seven-under 65 to lead Kenny Perry and Jerry Kelly by one stroke after the first round of the PGA Memorial Tournament on Thursday.
Brett Quigley and Rod Pampling are just two shots adrift of Goggin, a renowned ball-striker whose chipping and putting has prevented him from winning on the PGA Tour.
But Goggin needed just 22 putts on Thursday in his first appearance at the event hosted by Jack Nicklaus.
Two time winner Perry also had just 22 putts on the quick greens.
He rolled in nine birdies, including six in a row from the 11th hole — a rare experience for the 47-year-old veteran.
A tired Phil Mickelson shot a 72, just four days after his sensational last-gasp victory at Colonial.
“I knew today was going to be tough because I didn’t have a great three days heading in,” the left-handed American said. “I was tired and didn’t have a chance to rest and get ready.”
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