Korea’s Oh Ji-young reacts to her birdie on the 18th hole. (AFP-Yonhap News)
CARLSBAD, California (AP) ― Top-ranked Yani Tseng shot a 5-under 67 on Thursday for a share of the first-round lead with Oh Ji-young in the Kia Classic.
Tseng finished with a birdie on the par-4 ninth after dropping a stroke on the par-3 eighth.
The 23-year-old Taiwanese star won the LPGA Founders Cup on Sunday in Phoenix for her 14th LPGA Tour title and second in four events this year. She led the tour last season with seven victories ― including major victories in the LPGA Championship and Women’s British Open ― and finished the year with 12 worldwide titles.
Suzann Pettersen, Shin Ji-yai, Brittany Lincicome, Jennifer Johnson and Caroline Hedwall were a stroke back.
Hassan II Trophy AGADIR, Morocco (AP) ― Ireland’s Damien McGrane shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the European Tour’s Hassan II Trophy.
Spain’s Alejandro Canizares was second at Golf du Palais Royal, the Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed course that sits inside the walls of the Royal Palace of Agadir. Other than the tournament, the course is used only by King Mohammed VI and his guests.
England’s Robert Rock, needing to finish first or second in to make the top 50 in the world and assure a spot in the Masters, had a 77. He had an 11 on the par-4 fourth hole.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
