Sisters struggle, holder Feng among early leaders
>> IBARAKI: Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn had unconvincing starts at the Toto Japan Classic yesterday.
World No.9 Ariya hit a three-underpar 69 to stay joint 24th while older sister Moriya shot a one-under 71 for tied 47th in the LPGA Tour event.
Pornanong Phatlum, the other Thai in the tournament, carded a one-over 73 and was joint 62nd.
Defending champion Feng Shanshan birdied five of her last seven holes as she recovered from a slow start to share a seven-way tie for the lead.
China’s Feng, who is looking to become the first player to defend an LPGA title in 2017, has been a topseven finisher in five out of her last six starts on various tours.
After 11 holes, the world No.4 was only one under for the tournament in Ibaraki before she got into her stride to finish at six-under 66.
“I did start the day slowly, just like usual, and then I got my first birdie on the eighth hole finally,” said Feng.
Feng shared the lead with Americans Lizette Salas and Jane Park, Lee Min-Young of South Korea and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Saiki Fujita and Ai Suzuki.
Salas bogeyed her first hole of the day but bounced back with seven birdies over the rest of her round.
She said she was feeling confident with the greens as she eyes her first win of the year.
“They’re slick [and] they’re fast, which are the kind of greens I like to be on,” she said.
Park is also looking for her first win of the year, having notched just two top-10 finishes in 2017.