Saturday March 23, 2013
Park grabs Kia Classic lead as Webb lurks
CARLSBAD (California): American Jane Park, in search of her first LPGA title in her sixth season on the tour, fired a six-under 66 on Thursday to seized the first-round lead in the LPGA Kia Classic.
Park played without a bogey, but she had some big names in striking distance.
Hall of Famer Karrie Webb of Australia had six birdies and one bogey in her five-under 67, which had her tied for second alongside Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall.
Italian Giulia Sergas and American Jessica Korda were tied for fourth on 68, while the 10 players tied on three-under 69 included South Korean Hall of Famer Pak Se-ri and US star Paula Creamer.
Park started on the back nine and birdied 13 and 17. After another birdie at the second, she birdied three in a row from the fourth.
“The golf courses here just really fit my eye,” Park said. “I just love this style of golf course, so maybe that’s why I played pretty well today.”
Webb powered her way into contention with four birdies in a five-hole stretch. She birdied the fourth, and after failing to take advantage of the par-five fifth she birdied three in a row from the sixth.
Birdies at 12 and 14 sandwiched her lone bogey of the day at 13.
“Tee to green was pretty solid,” she said. “I only missed a couple fairways, a couple greens and made some putts, which is good in the afternoon on these poa annua greens, so it was a pretty solid round.
“I didn’t really get myself in too much trouble, just one hole I missed a fairway and was in the deep rough, but other than that it was all right.”
Hedwall grabbed her share of second place despite a double-bogey on the par-five 10th – where she put two balls in the water.
She countered that and one bogey with eight birdies, six of them on the front nine. The tournament is without defending champion Tseng Yani, who was toppled from the No. 1 spot in the world rankings this week by America’s Stacy Lewis.
Yani overslept on Wednesday and missed the tee time for her pro-am round. Under LPGA rules, failing to appear for the pro-am bars a player from competing in the tournament.
An embarrassed Yani issued a statement on Wednesday saying she overslept.
“I was extremely excited to compete this week to defend my title at the Kia Classic and to try to regain the No. 1 spot,” she said. “This was an unfortunate mistake and I want to apologize to Kia, my sponsors and all of the fans. I can’t wait to come back here next year.”
Lewis, making her first start as the world No. 1, carded a two-under 70 that left her tied for 16th. — AFP
- Hosts Malaysia make a tame exit at the hands of Germany
- BAM: There will be no more sweeping under the carpet
- It’s the last $traw thanks to the BWF
- Japanese upset Danes and Joo-bong is all smiles
- Denmark not prepared to take on mighty China just yet
- Tommy not afraid to play for country despite loss
- Dane loves to unwind with her Modern Family
- Low Wee Wern fails to clear opening round again in British Open
- Cyclists give the thumbs up to world-class velodrome
- Injured Murray withdraws from French Open
- I thought of pulling out after "stupid" Woods remark - Garcia
- Garcia sorry after "stupid" Woods fried chicken jibe
- Banker Carrion bids for IOC presidency
- Del Potro pulls out of French Open
- CAS reject Murofushi appeal against IOC election block
- Cycling: Wintry weather may force more Giro changes
- Cricket: Warner fined for Twitter outburst
- Garcia apologises for 'fried chicken' jibe at Woods
- Tomic will play French Open despite troubles - Woodbridge
- Winger Ioane faces fitness race for first Lions test
RSS
