Chella Choi Woon-jung fired a six-under-par 66 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Manulife LPGA Classic on Thursday.
The South Korean reeled off seven birdies and only one bogey to tame the demanding Whistle Bear Golf Club layout at Cambridge, Ontario.
Choi was pursued by the US’ Brittany Lang, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist, Spaniard Azahara Munoz and fellow South Korean Chun In-gee, who were one off the lead.
Photo: AFP
The 26-year-old Choi said she was happy with the way she had mastered blustery conditions.
“A lot of wind today, but my game is good and driving is good, shot was good, so I made a lot of birdies,” said Choi, who tied for seventh at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open in Calgary last weekend.
“I worked really hard the last three weeks. So I want to hit straight and strong, my drive four days, so I focus on just my driving four days... My driving is better, so the game is easier than before,” she said.
Choi, who has only one LPGA title to her name, is aiming to go one better than in 2012 at the Manulife, where she lost in a playoff with Lang and two other South Korean players, Inbee Park and Seo Hee-kyung, when the tournament was held at Grey Silo in Waterloo.
Lang meanwhile reveled in being back on familiar territory in Ontario.
“I love coming up here,” she said. “I love everything about it... I just feel super comfortable here.”
Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling, the US’ Brittany Lincicome and Japan’s Ai Miyazato were among a group of 11 players two off the lead after carding four-under-par 68s.
Min Lee was the second-best-placed Taiwanese after carding a one-under-par 71.
Her compatriots Yani Tseng and Cheng Ssu-chia were both below the projected cut line.
Defending champion Suzann Pettersen of Norway was in a group of 17 players tied for 17th at 69.
World No. 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand was four off the pace after shooting a two-under-par 70. In-form Thai star Ariya Jutanugarn was also four back.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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