Inbee Park shot a five-under 67 on Thursday for a share of the lead in the LPGA Tour’s Kia Classic, the final event before the major ANA Inspiration next week in Rancho Mirage.
“I just want to have all the game physically and mentally,” Park said. “You want your game to be ready for next week. It is just the last test before the majors, just trying to test out some shots and try to get some confidence.”
The second-ranked South Korean player withdrew because of a back pain after a first-round 80 in the opener in the Bahamas and has struggled to regain that form that carried her to two major titles and five victories last year. She tied for 30th in Thailand and Singapore and missed the cut last week in the Founders Cup in Phoenix.
Photo: AFP
Morning starters Brittany Lang, Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Ai Miyazato matched Park at 67, and top-ranked Lydia Ko was another stroke back.
Park played the back nine at Aviara in four-under, making her final birdie on the par-five 17th. She hit 11 of 14 fairways in regulation, 14 of 18 greens, and had 27 putts.
Lang holed out from the fairway for eagle on the par-four first hole and had five birdies and two bogeys. She opened with a 63 last week in Phoenix and ended up tying for ninth.
Miyazato eagled the par-five 10th in her bogey-free round, while Shadoff had seven birdies and two bogeys.
Ko birdied five of her final nine holes in her morning round. The 18-year-old New Zealander was second in Phoenix.
Jane Park and Mi Jung-hur joined Ko at 68.
Michelle Wie shot a 70 after missing the cut in Phoenix. She had six birdies and four bogeys.
Jang Ha-na opened with a 71. She won this year in Florida and Singapore.
Phoenix winner Kim Sei-young parred the final 13 holes in a 72. On Sunday, she matched Annika Sorenstam’s LPGA Tour scoring record of 27-under, closing with a 10-under 62 for a five-stroke victory.
Fourth-ranked Stacy Lewis also shot 72. She has a 44-event victory drought that dates to June 2014.
Defending champion Cristie Kerr had a 73, and Lexi Thompson struggled to a 77. Third-ranked Thompson won last month in Thailand.
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling carded a one-under 71, Yani Tseng shot a two-over 74 and Min Lee fared poorly with a six-over 78. Kaohsiung-born US player Candie Kung also played below her usual standard with a three-over 75.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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