Amanda Blumenherst of the US birdied her last four holes en route to a seven-under par 66 on Thursday as she grabbed a one-shot lead over Sandra Gal in the first round of the LPGA Kia Classic.
Blumenherst, who is seeking her first victory on the women’s tour, had a total of nine birdies with just two bogeys at Industry Hills Golf Club east of downtown Los Angeles.
Germany’s Gal had seven birdies in her six-under 67 on the par-73 layout.
Blumenherst made the most of the benign morning conditions on a course softened by recent rain.
“The fairways are extremely soft right now. So are the greens,” Blumenherst said. “It’s playing a lot longer than it says on the card, which actually suits me because I’m one of the longer ball-strikers.”
Gal’s round also included a burst of four birdies in a row, from the par-four fifth through the eighth. Her lone bogey of the day came at the par-five first hole.
“I think it’s a ball-striker’s course,” Gal said. “You’ve got to hit the fairway and be precise with your yardages. I think that’s my game.”
The LPGA last played at the venue in 1982, when South African Sally Little won the second of back-to-back titles.
The club’s two courses have since undergone a US$25 million makeover and holes from each are being used to form one 18-hole layout for the tournament.
All of the world’s top 10, led by Taiwanese No. 1 Yani Tseng, and 22 of the top 25 are entered.
Michelle Wie was alone in third place after a 68 that included a birdie at the par-five 18th.
Wie, who is returning to the tour after finishing her final exams at Stanford University, faced chilly conditions under threatening skies in the late afternoon.
“I think that [length] is an advantage, but obviously it’s a very tight golf course, so you have to be on the fairway,” Wie said. “I think that you have to have a combination of both.”
World No. 2 Jiyai Shin of South Korea was four strokes off the lead on 70, in a group with Japan’s Mika Miyazato, compatriot Kim In-kyung , Britain’s Catriona Matthew, Taiwan’s Amy Hung and American Reilley Rankin.
Tseng, the winner of the season-opening LPGA Thailand and three other tournaments worldwide this year, opened with a 71, where she was joined by six other players.
Sail Open
AFP, NEW DELHI
Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand birdied the last hole to win his first Asian Tour title at the SAIL Open yesterday, beating Siddikur of Bangladesh by just one stroke at the Delhi Golf Club.
Kiradech, who returned with a four-under-par 68 for a four-day total of 16-under-par 272, turned in 35 before posting birdies on holes 10, 12 and 14.
He was level with Siddikur after dropping a shot on hole 16 and admitted to feeling nervous when he stepped up to sink the winning putt from three feet.
“The putt on the last was very near but my hand was shaking! I’m just happy I won. I’ve waited two years for this and I’m very proud of myself,” said the 21-year-old, who dropped on his knees after sinking the winning putt.
He said he was delighted to find his winning form at the US$300,000 event, which is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGTI, after being in contention four times last year.
“I learned a lot from my last two years on the Asian Tour. I felt nervous but I told myself to stick to my game plan and concentrate on my game. That worked for me,” the Thai said.
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