
Stacy Lewis, Jessica Korda and Azahara Munoz carded matching, six-under 66s in Wednesday's first round of the season-opening LPGA Tour's Coates Golf Championship, which was suspended due to darkness.
There were 21 players still on the course when play was halted at the Golden Ocala Golf course.
Lewis, the number three player in the world, has won 11 times on the LPGA Tour, including three victories last season.
"I just stayed patient out there. Finally on the back nine I kind of got more comfortable and started hitting golf shots," Lewis said.
"Had a couple birdies that were just tap-ins, which helped, and rolled a few putts in so it was a good day. I almost wish we didn't have darkness and could keep going, I finally got into a rhythm there."
Korda, a three-time winner on tour, won twice last year at the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic and the Airbus LPGA Classic. Munoz has one victory at the 2012 Sybase Match Play Championship.
Austin Ernst and Jang Ha Na finished up in the morning groups at five-under 67. They held the lead throughout most of the day until Lewis, Korda and Munoz chased them down.
World number two Lydia Ko finished her first round tied for sixth at four-under 68 with Choi Na-Yeon. Lexi Thompson and Hur Mi-Jung are one shot further back at three-under 69. Ko was superb in her rookie season last year winning three times.
World number one Park In-bee carded a one-under 71 and she is tied for 15th with 11 others.
Lewis was the last of the leaders to finish her round, but she did so in style and she vaulted into a share of the lead.
Korda said she has the same good feeling this week that she had when she won the first tournament of the 2014 season.
"I just feel like I'm refreshed and ready to go," she said. "I try and bring the mentality with me all the time every time I try and play, but for some reason it shines brighter the first event of the season.
"I honestly don't know what it is about it, but I'm just happy to be back."
Source: AFP
GMT 22:27 2018 Thursday ,13 December
Russian swimmer Prigoda takes gold in China with new WR in men’s 200m breaststrokeGMT 11:54 2018 Tuesday ,11 December
Ajax and Bayern in tasty Champions League duel for first placeGMT 07:42 2018 Thursday ,15 November
After IOC pressure, Spain lets Kosovo athletes compete under flagGMT 14:21 2018 Tuesday ,30 October
US Mayweather to fight Russia’s Nurmagomedov strictly under UFC rulesGMT 09:23 2018 Thursday ,11 October
UEFA abstains from broadcasting games in Israeli settlementsGMT 12:32 2018 Friday ,28 September
Germany ready to learn from Russia’s experience of hosting 2018 FIFA World CupGMT 11:24 2018 Wednesday ,26 September
Malaysian football latest newsGMT 14:48 2018 Sunday ,09 September
Spain Team Coached by Luis Enrique Looks StrongMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2025 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor