RELEASED: 22 Feb 2018 at 21:50
Pattaya: Competitors was close at the end of the opening round of the Honda LPGA Thailand as 4 gamers emerged connected for the leading area the other day.
Thai hope Moriya Jutanugarn shot an opening six-under 66 to sign up with Americans Lexi Thompson, Jessica Korda and Australian Minjee Lee on top of the leaderboard at the Siam Nation Club in Pattaya.
” I had a great start today, it was much better than I anticipated,” stated world No. 21 Moriya, who was seventh here in 2015.
” I simply attempted to have a good time and didn’t have any expectation. So total I’m quite delighted with ball game today.
” Being amongst leaders will not alter anything. My objective today is to delight in the video game and attempt to do my finest,” she included.
Moriya was the only gamer amongst the 4 leaders to end the day without a bogey. Her sibling Ariya was likewise in contention after a strong start of four-under 68.
The expectations are sky high for Moriya this year after an excellent year in 2017 that saw her gather 11 top-10 outcomes. She is still winless on the LPGA Trip.
Three-time trip winner Lee ended up with an outstanding 45-foot eagle putt to be amongst the leaders.
” I simply struck the collar. I didn’t understand if I was going to have enough. Such a huge break there. I’m grateful it captured the hole,” Lee stated.
” It’s a second-shot golf course. Your techniques are truly crucial, and undoubtedly remaining in the best areas with the waviness. And if you have a hot putter that’s going to assist.”
Thompson, who won this occasion in 2016 by 6 shots with a 20-under overall and connected for 4th in 2015, began her most current round in design with an eagle followed by a birdie just to bogey the 3rd hole. She shot 4 more birdies.
” It certainly assists to get that type of start, however I was simply attempting to keep that momentum and not get ahead of myself,” Thompson stated.
Her compatriot Korda had a roller-coaster round which included eagles on the very first and 17th holes, 5 birdies, a double bogey on the 6th, and 2 bogeys.
South Korea’s Amy Yang, who won the competition in 2017 and 2015, and world No. 2 Park Sung-Hyun, who is making her launching in Thailand, shared a congested second-place position with 4 other gamers.
World No. 8 Ariya, a runner-up in 2013, began with an eagle at the par-five very first hole. She birdied the 2nd and 4th however had a bogey on the 5th. The Thai had another birdie on the 16th to end the day on 4 under.
” I enjoy with my round today. I played my finest,” stated Ariya, who shared 11th location with American duo Danielle Kang, Michelle Wie, South Korea’s Ryu So-Yeon, Japan’s Misuzu Narita. “My putting was strong today. I missed out on a couple of holes however total it was a great round.”
China’s world No. 1 Feng Shanshan ended the day nipping at the heels of the front pack with a three-under 69. She shared 16th location with previous top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand, another hope home Pornanong Phatlum and 3 other gamers.
