Japan’s Mika Miyazato fired a seven-under-par 65 on Friday to grab a share of the lead with American Sydnee Michaels after the opening round of the LPGA Safeway Classic.
Miyazato had eight birdies against a lone bogey to stand atop the leaderboard with Michaels, who birdied four holes in a row on her way to making a career low and sharing the lead in the 54-hole event at Pumpkin Ridge.
“My golf game is very confident right now,” Miyazato said. “To begin the season, I was not so very good. I started to shoot right in four or five events. So I’m gaining more confidence in my golf game.”
Photo: AFP
Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum, American Cristie Kerr and South Korean Park In-bee shared third on 66 with South Koreans Ryu So-yeon and Lee Jee-young on 67 along with Americans Brittany Lincicome and Alison Walshe.
Miyazato began with a birdie and followed with back-to-back birdies at the par-four fourth and par-five fifth holes.
“My short game was very, very good,” Miyazato said. “It’s more important the short game on this course. The greens were hard and had more speed, very quick.”
Taiwan’s Yani Tseng finished her first round with a two-under-par 70 to tie for 28th place with eight other players.
The world No. 1 female golfer took two bogeys and four birdies on the first day of the tournament.
Tseng, who has been in a slump since June, said she believes more is learned from failure than from victory and that if she wins the tournament, it will be an important professional landmark for her.
Her compatriot Amy Hung and Taiwanese-American Candie Kung were tied for 10th place at four-under par.
Additional reporting by staff writer, with CNA
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