China’s Lin Xi-yu took the lead yesterday at a windy Blue Bay LPGA, while Lydia Ko struggled in her first round since regaining the world No. 1 ranking.
With her family watching at the LPGA Tour’s lone event in China this season, the 19-year-old Lin shot a five-under 67 in difficult conditions at Jian Lake Blue Bay.
She had the lone bogey-free round on a day when only 10 of the 80 players broke par.
“My mom just got here this morning and she hasn’t watched me play since the US Open,” Lin said. “I’m very happy that my family can be with me this week.”
Ko opened with a 77, her highest score since a career-worst 80 in high wind last year at Royal Birkdale in the Women’s British Open. She won the Fubon LPGA Taiwan Championship by nine strokes on Sunday to regain the No. 1 spot from Inbee Park.
The 18-year-old New Zealander has a LPGA Tour-high five victories this season, winning three of her past five starts.
Ko had a double-bogey on the par-four second, bogeyed the next three holes and dropped more strokes on 11 and 12. She birdied the par-five 14th and 18th.
Lin hit to within six inches on the par-three 17th to set up her final birdie.
“I actually hit it a little thin, but the wind was helping,” Lin said.
She missed a birdie chance on the par-five 18th when her six-foot putt slid by on the right side.
“When I played in the practice round, I thought: ‘This place is pretty tough,’” Lin said “I’m pretty surprised what I did today. I’m really satisfied with my game.”
She has had the two best finishes of her two-year LPGA Tour career on the Asian Swing, opening with a tie for seventh in Malaysia and tying for sixth last week in Taiwan.
Austin Ernst was second after a 68. Fellow Americans Ryann O’Toole and Jane Park were at 70, along with South Koreans Jenny Shin and Kim Sei-young.
World No. 3 Stacy Lewis, US Solheim Cup teammate Brittany Lang, Germany’s Caroline Masson and Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung shot 71.
Former world No. 1 Yani Tseng shot a two-over 74, while fellow Taiwanese Hsu Wei-ling was two shots further back after a 76. Taiwan’s Min Lee carded a seven-over 79.
“Pretty windy out there and then a few of the pins are kind of in kind of tough spots if you get it on the wrong side of the hole, but I hit it pretty well all day,” Ernst said. “Gave myself a lot of looks. Made a lot of good putts. A lot of good pars.”
The 23-year-old won the Portland Classic last year for her lone LPGA Tour title.
China’s Feng Shanshan had a 73. She has four career LPGA Tour victories.
World No. 2 Park shot a 75. The South Korean player has four victories this year, winning two of the five majors. She tied for second on Sunday in a Korea LPGA event.
Michelle Wie opened with a 76. South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, the winner last year in the rain-shortened event, also shot a 76.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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