Park grabs first-round lead in Arkansas

Buoyed by a stretch of five consecutive birdies, South Korea’s Inbee Park shot a 9-under 62 Friday to grab the lead after the first round of the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.

Park, who won the event at Pinnacle Country Club in 2013, holds a one-shot edge over Paula Creamer, Thailand’s Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda.

Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., was seven shots off the pace in a tie for 54th at 2 under. Calgary’s Jaclyn Lee (1 over) and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., (2 over) didn’t make the cut.

“You can’t be satisfied with just the one round,” Park told LPGA. com. “I got to keep this going for the next two rounds and hopefully walk away with something.”

Annie Park, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and Puerto Rico’s Maria Torres share fifth place at 7 under. Katherine Perry, Marina Alex, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and South Koreans Jenny Shin and Jin Young Ko are tied for eighth place at 6 under.

Ko is the world’s top-ranked player, while Hataoka is No. 5, Jutanugarn No. 8 and Inbee Park No. 9.

Hataoka won the event last year by six strokes and she’s in the hunt again after a first round that included eight birdies and two bogeys.

Park enjoyed a bogey-free round, counting six birdies while opening on the back nine before earning three more on the front nine.

“My (first) nine, my putter was really hot,” Park said. “I hit a lot of shots really close, a couple tap-in birdies, which always helps.”

Ciganda also made nine birdies, but bogeyed the par-four 13th hole.

“Everything was working today,” Ciganda told LPGA.com. “Good drivers, good second shots to the green, and I made some really good putts.”