Ko hits form in tour return
Hendry falls off the pace
A mini-break appears to have done wonders for Kiwi golfer Lydia Ko, who is back in familiar territory at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in San Francisco – on top of the leaderboard.
The world No 1 shrugged off a disappointing performance at the first major championship of the year to card a five-under par 67 in the first round of the Swinging Skirts, claiming a oneshot lead.
Ko, the defending champion in San Francisco, notched four birdies in five holes as she reached the turn in 32, riding a hot putter as she landed several mid to long range putts.
After a bogey at the par-four 11th, where she found the right rough with her tee shot and then couldn’t get up-and-down from the greenside rough, Ko made back-to-back birdies at the parfour 13th and par-five 14th, and would have chipped in for eagle at the latter had she opted to take the flag stick out.
As it transpired, the flag kept her ball out of the hole but she had a tap-in for birdie No 6 of the day.
Ko parred her way home to maintain a one-shot lead over a trio of players at four-under – South Korean Ha Na Jang, Thailand’s PK Kongkraphan, and American veteran Juli Inkster, a seven-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer.
Ko’s coach, David Leadbetter said last week Ko needed a break after looking tired at the ANA Inspiration, which followed a long stretch of golf. Speaking immediately after the first round, Ko said she hadn’t felt tired but in hindsight she had needed a week off.
‘‘I didn’t feel too tired but other people said I looked it on New Zealand golfer Michael Hendry fell down the leaderboard during the second round of the $4.25 million China Open on Friday.
Hendry was the joint leader after a opening round of four-under 68, but he couldn’t capitalise on his stellar start in the second round.
The former Kiwi No 1 carded three bogeys and just two birdies in a one-over par 73, which had him in a share of 12th place at three-under par.
Frenchmen Alexander Levy, the defending champion, and Julien Quesne jointly held the lead at nineunder par, with both players six-under for the round but still on course.
Kiwis Mark Brown and Ryan Fox will miss the cut.
Brown carded a two-over 74 to be five-over and in a tie for 96th, while Fox’s five-over 77 saw him tumble down to 108th at six-over. TV so it just goes to show I needed that break and I do really think it was worth it,’’ Ko said.
Meanwhile, Tim Wilkinson and Danny Lee have made solid starts at the latest PGA Tour event, the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Wilkinson carded a three-under 69 to be tied for 31st while Lee’s two-under 70 has him in a share of 49th after the first round. The other Kiwi in the field, Steve Alker, carded a one-under 71 to share 75th.
American Boo Weekley and Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge lead after opening with eightunder 64s.