Ochoa and Wie struggle in wind in
Phoenix LPGA International
Defending champion and title favourite Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie struggled to tame a wild west wind as South Korea's In-Kyung Kim returned a four-under-par 68 to lead at the end of the first round in the Phoenix LPGA International.
Kim led by one from compatriots Women's British Open champion Jiyai Shin, Inbee Park and Eun-Hee Ji and American Cristie Kerr who eagled the final hole, and Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who finished with a birdie.
The wind gusts were measured as high as 40 mph at Papago, a recently refurbished municpal course being used for the first time for this tournament which has been played at Superstition Mountain for the past five years.
Some players thought that the wind was strong enough for play to be suspended.
Ochoa had a par-matching 72, the same score as Laura Davies, and 19-year-old Weir a 73.
Pat Hurst, the Mastercard Classic winner last week in Mexico, had a 76.
Becky Morgan and Karen Stupples struggled to break 80. Becky had a 78 for a share of 107th place while Karen returned a 79 for joint 124th place.
Shin had a spectacular finish, with birdies at 16 and 17, and a 12-foot eagle putt at the last. Shin, the HSBC Women's Champions winner in Singapore this month, is a 20-year-old rookie on the LPGA Tour.
She won three tournaments last year, the Ricoh Women's British Open, the Mizuno Classic and the season-ending ADT Championship, for which she earne $1 million.
Kris Tamulis aced the 158yd second hole with an 8-iron.
Darkness prevented nine players, including Janice Moodie and Johanna (Head) Mundy, from finishing their rounds. Moodie completed a 79 on Friday morning while Mundy had a 78.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72, 6711yd
68 In-Kyung Kim.
69 Jiyai Shin, Eun-Hee Ji, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park, Suzann Pettersen.
70 Karine Icher, Wendy Doolan, Ire Cho, Angela Park, Song-Hee Kim, Karrie Webb, Ji Young Oh, Silvia Cavalleri, Giulia Sergas, Reilley Rankin.
Selected scores:
72 Laura Davies, Lorena Ochoa (jt 21st).
73 Michelle Wie (jt 37th).
78 Becky Morgan, Johanna Mundy.
79 Karen Stupples, Janice Moodie.
Phoenix LPGA International
Defending champion and title favourite Lorena Ochoa and Michelle Wie struggled to tame a wild west wind as South Korea's In-Kyung Kim returned a four-under-par 68 to lead at the end of the first round in the Phoenix LPGA International.
Kim led by one from compatriots Women's British Open champion Jiyai Shin, Inbee Park and Eun-Hee Ji and American Cristie Kerr who eagled the final hole, and Norway's Suzann Pettersen, who finished with a birdie.
The wind gusts were measured as high as 40 mph at Papago, a recently refurbished municpal course being used for the first time for this tournament which has been played at Superstition Mountain for the past five years.
Some players thought that the wind was strong enough for play to be suspended.
Ochoa had a par-matching 72, the same score as Laura Davies, and 19-year-old Weir a 73.
Pat Hurst, the Mastercard Classic winner last week in Mexico, had a 76.
Becky Morgan and Karen Stupples struggled to break 80. Becky had a 78 for a share of 107th place while Karen returned a 79 for joint 124th place.
Shin had a spectacular finish, with birdies at 16 and 17, and a 12-foot eagle putt at the last. Shin, the HSBC Women's Champions winner in Singapore this month, is a 20-year-old rookie on the LPGA Tour.
She won three tournaments last year, the Ricoh Women's British Open, the Mizuno Classic and the season-ending ADT Championship, for which she earne $1 million.
Kris Tamulis aced the 158yd second hole with an 8-iron.
Darkness prevented nine players, including Janice Moodie and Johanna (Head) Mundy, from finishing their rounds. Moodie completed a 79 on Friday morning while Mundy had a 78.
FIRST ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72, 6711yd
68 In-Kyung Kim.
69 Jiyai Shin, Eun-Hee Ji, Cristie Kerr, Inbee Park, Suzann Pettersen.
70 Karine Icher, Wendy Doolan, Ire Cho, Angela Park, Song-Hee Kim, Karrie Webb, Ji Young Oh, Silvia Cavalleri, Giulia Sergas, Reilley Rankin.
Selected scores:
72 Laura Davies, Lorena Ochoa (jt 21st).
73 Michelle Wie (jt 37th).
78 Becky Morgan, Johanna Mundy.
79 Karen Stupples, Janice Moodie.
Labels: LPGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 7:55:00 AM
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