Australia’s Anna Rawson and China’s Feng Shanshan shared the lead on Thursday after the first round of the Bell Micro LPGA Classic.
Rawson, who attended the University of Southern California, is playing in just her 10th LPGA event of the year and first since tying for 43rd at the State Farm Classic in mid-July.
The 27-year-old sometime model has missed seven cuts this year.
PHOTO: AFP
She did her best to ensure she would be around on the final two days this week, firing a five-under-par 67 at the Magnolia Grove’s The Crossings.
She bogeyed the par-four third, then was flawless the rest of the way with birdies at six, nine, 11, 13, 14 and 17.
Feng, who has two top-10 finishes in 19 events this season, joined Rawson atop the leaderboard by a more circuitous route.
The tour rookie nabbed an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.
Feng started on the back nine and made three birdies and the second eagle of her LPGA career at the par-five 16th.
Nicole Castrale, Brazilian Angela Park, Australian Michelle Ellis and Irene Cho were one shot back on four-under 68.
Danielle Downey, Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, South Korean Kim Song-hee and Cristie Kerr — winner of the LPGA Tour Safeway Classic — were level on 69.
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