Australia’s Anna Rawson shot a seven-under 64 to take the first-round lead over Suzann Pettersen on Thursday at the LPGA Canadian Women’s Open.
Rawson carded a career-low round on the LPGA Tour to finish a shot ahead of Norway’s Pettersen for her second 18-hole lead.
World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa and Amanda Blumenherst were another stroke behind at five-under 66, while Japanese star Momoko Ueda led a four-way tie at 67. American Michelle Wie stumbled to an opening round 76.
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng was in a group in 22nd place on two-under after carding a 69. Candie Kung shot an even-par 71, while Amy Hung was a shot further back after a 72. Teresa Lu carded a disappointing five-over 76.
Up until this point, the 28-year-old Rawson is better-known for her part-time modeling career than her success on the golf course.
“We didn’t have any problems today,” she said. “I over-shot one green and it was a perfect shot. I was just in the rough.”
Rawson rolled in four birdies and two bogeys and posted a 33 on the front nine. It was on the back nine where she really got going, making birdie on five holes and shooting a 31.
Her previous best career low was a 65 in the final round of the State Farm Classic in June.
“I feel great on this golf course,” Rawson said. “I really like all the holes. I feel like you can birdie every one, depending where they put the pins, but I think I’ve just got a good grasp for it in the practice rounds.”
Rawson is a distant 110th on the money list.
“I think this year has just been terrible mentally,” she said. “Like, I’ve just had the worst head that you could ever imagine. I don’t even want to tell you what’s been going through my head, it’s that bad. I thought about everything that I shouldn’t. I really haven’t hit the ball that bad. I just haven’t been here. I haven’t been enjoying it, I haven’t been out here.”
ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY STAFF WRITER
■EUROPEAN MASTERS
AFP, CRANS-SUR-SIERRE, SWITZERLAND
Australian Brett Rumford, the 2007 champion in the Alps, opened up a one-shot lead after the first round of the European Masters on Thursday after an impressive birdie blitz.
The 32-year-old from Perth overcame a slow start, when he dropped shots on the fourth and fifth holes, to card an eagle at the seventh which was followed by birdies at the sixth and ninth.
He added seven more birdies on the closing nine holes for a nine-under 62.
England’s Simon Dyson, the Dutch Open champion last month, is a shot further back with Christian Nilsson, Alexander Noren, Andres Romero, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Danny Willett and Thongchai Jaidee all sharing third place, three shots off the pace.
Both Thongchai and Dyson have previously won the Asian Tour Order of Merit, an appropriate statistic as this is the first ever event co-sanctioned by the European Tour and Asian Tour on European soil.
Thongchai began his chase for a third title of the season with a six-under 65.
The Asian Tour Order of Merit leader emerged as the leading Asian in the field following seven birdies and a lone bogey.
India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, looking to put in a strong performance to impress Presidents Cup International Team captain Greg Norman, opened his campaign with a solid 68 and was matched by compatriot Shiv Kapur, Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing and Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat.
“I played really well. I was rock solid and I was happy with how I played. I’m stroking it well and I hope to take advantage of the good greens tomorrow morning,” Singh said.
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