Champion Ariya seven adrit after first round at Volvik tournament
>> ANN ARBOR: Ariya Jutanugarn got off to a slow start in the defence of her title at the Volvik Championship.
The world No.3 from Thailand shot an even-par 72 to stay 84th along with No.2 Ryu So-Yeon of South Korea.
They were seven shots behind Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-ling and American Stacy Lewis who fired 65s.
Ariya and ANA Inspiration champion Ryu could dethrone top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand this week. Ko did not enter the Volvik tournament.
Ariya, 21, won five LPGA titles last year but has not yet claimed one this year.
She failed to retain the Kingsmill title last week.
Hsu’s seven-under score equalled the second-best round of her LPGA Tour career and was an incredible 13-stroke improvement over her opening round last year at the Travis Pointe Country Club course in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“It was really great start. I mean from the very first hole, said Hsu, who shot a 78 in the first round last year and missed the cut.
“I had my seven-iron and I just hit it right at the pin. I didn’t see it very well. I just heard my mom and the gallery on the side, and they were all just cheering.”
Hsu wasted no time giving family and friends something to roar about as she started her round with two eagles and two birdies en route to seizing at least a share of the lead for the first time in her tour career.
Two-time major winner Lewis is seeking the 12th victory of her career and her first since 2014.
MIYAZATO TO RETIRE
Former world No.1 Ai Miyazato of Japan will retire from professional golf at the end of the 2017 season, her management said yesterday.
No reasons were immediately given for the decision.
The 31-year-old Miyazato, a ninetime winner on the American LPGA circuit who has slipped outside the top 100, is set to give a news conference on Monday.
Miyazato’s last tournament win came in 2012.