Former Women’s British Open runner-up Katherine Kirk got off to an electrifying start on Thursday to fire a seven-under 64 for a share of the lead after the first round of the LPGA Classic.
The 33-year-old Australian was tied with Americans Dori Carter and Lizette Salas as all three took advantage of the calmer conditions that greeted the morning starters to post low scores at the Blythefield Country Club in Michigan.
“I drove it pretty well, and I think I hit 16 greens and made quite a few birdies and an eagle,” said Kirk, who is seeking her third win on the LPGA Tour. “So I got off to a good start and kind of just kept it going, which was nice.”
Photo: AP
Jaye Marie Green and Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling were tied behind the leaders at 65 after the first 18 holes of the US$2 million event. The group at 66 included Kris Tamulis, Baek Kyu-jung, Lee Il-hee and Jane Rah.
World No. 1 Inbee Park and Taiwan’s Min Lee were part of a large contingent tied for 37th after opening with 70s, while Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung was three shots further back after a two-over 73.
Kirk was red hot right from the beginning as she started on the back nine. The Brisbane native was four-under through the first four holes, which included an eagle on the par-five 11th. After a bogey on 15, Kirk fashioned back-to-back birdies on 16 and 17.
Kirk, who finished second at the 2010 Women’s British Open, made a birdie at the first. After rattling off three consecutive pars she drained her sixth birdie at the fifth.
She then went par-bogey, before capping her round with another birdie at the ninth.
Carter posted eight birdies, including three in a row on four through six.
The best part of Salas’ bogey-free round was an eagle at the par-five 11th to go with five birdies.
“It felt good, to end on a note like that is really positive,” Salas said of her consecutive birdies to finish the round. “I plan to just kind of go out on the practice area today, focus on the greens and really try to keep it going the next three days.”
Hsu was among the players with afternoon tee times who had to deal with more wind.
Park, the runner-up last year, got off to a slow start with three bogeys on the front nine. She lost in a playoff to Lee Mi-rim last year.
Chella Choi, who won the Marathon Classic last weekend in Ohio, shot an even-par 71.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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