Strong start gives Piller one-shot advantage

LOS ANGELES: Gerina Piller (pic) fired an eight-under 63 to take a one- stroke lead over newly-crowned US Open champion Park Sung-hyun and Chien Pei-yun after the first round of the US LPGA Tour’s Marathon Classic in Ohio.

Piller, chasing her first LPGA Tour title, got off to a strong start at Highland Meadows, with birdies at the first three holes and four of the first five.

Another birdie at the par-three eighth was followed by her lone bogey of the day at the ninth and had her making the turn at four-under. She added four more birdies coming in.

“I feel like any time you shoot eight-under is pretty good,” Piller said.

“Got off to a good start and got the putts rolling. To be honest, my ball-striking didn’t feel as great coming into this weekend, and the week after a Major it’s always tough just because you’re so exhausted mentally.

“I just went out there and really trusted what I had and just brought it together.”

South Korea’s Sung-hyun, who made her first LPGA Tour win a Major championship when she lifted the US Women’s Open at Trump National in New Jersey, showed no sign of a let-down as she fired seven birdies in a bogey free round, while Taiwan’s Pei-yun had eight birdies in a bogey in her 64.

“My feeling today was awesome,” Sung-hyun said.

“It was a good start after winning the Major championship.”

Sung-hyun said there was no temptation to dwell on her Open victory, as satisfying as it was and she was focusing on this week’s tournament with last week’s happiness “behind from now on”.

Three players shared fourth on six-under 65 – India’s Aditi Ashok, South Korean Kim In-kyung and American Kelly Shon.

Defending champion Lydia Ko, the former world No. 1 seeking her first win since lifting this trophy last year, opened with a two-over 73 that included three bogeys and one birdie.

Ko is seeking a third win in this event, but a return to the course in Sylvania, Ohio, provided little relief from the inconsistency that has dogged her this season.

“When you’re not hitting the ball fantastic, it’s not going to be the greatest score,” Ko said.

“But there’s always tomorrow. I shaped my drivers pretty well but the three times that I missed a fairway I wasn’t able to make up-anddown from there.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to hit a few more fairways.”