Brooke Pancake fired a six-under 67 on Thursday to grab a one-shot lead in the weather-disrupted first round of the Bahamas LPGA Classic.
Pancake, starting her third full season on the LPGA Tour, is seeking her first career win. In fact, she has yet to nab a top-10 finish in her 39 starts.
The American was one stroke in front of former world No. 1 Inbee Park of South Korea and Americans Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis, who were all in the clubhouse on five-under 68.
Spain’s Azahara Munoz carded a 69 on the Ocean Club Golf Course at Atlantis Resort.
She was joined in the clubhouse on four-under by American Gerina Piller and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, while France’s Joanna Klatten was four-under through 12 holes when play was halted by heavy rain that left the course unplayable.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling and Lee Min both carded one-under 72.
“I luckily got to get out early this morning and really took advantage of not as strong of a wind on my first nine,” Pancake said. “And I putted really well. I gave myself a lot of birdie looks and I really took advantage of those.”
Park, who was toppled from the world No. 1 spot by teenager Lydia Ko on Monday, enjoyed a round highlighted by an eagle at the seventh and three birdies on the back nine.
Ko, at 17 the youngest golfer to claim the No. 1 ranking, was one-under par through eight holes when play was suspended.
“We’ve still got 10 more holes and I know there are birdie opportunities,” said Ko, who teed off on 10 and was playing 18 when the round was halted. “The 18th is a par-five, too, we’ve just got to stay patient and hopefully I will make a couple more birdies down the stretch.”
Before the round began, LPGA commissioner Mike Whan presented Ko and her caddie, Jason Hamilton, with the green caddie’s bib with the No. 1 on the back.
Hamilton also wore the green bib when he caddied for Taiwan’s Yani Tseng during her tenure at the top, but Ko admitted the little ceremony was exciting.
“He had the green bib with Yani before, so he’s used to it more than me,” Ko said. “But that was really cool. It was in this black, very professional little case.”
Thursday’s delays marked the second tournament in as many weeks that the elements have disrupted an LPGA event.
Last week in Ocala, Florida, play was delayed by frost and fog.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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