Defending champion Kirk starts well with Ariya 4 off the pace
>> WISCONSIN: Defending champion Katherine Kirk bounced back from the worst round of her pro career with a sparkling 62 on Thursday to seize the first-round lead at the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.
“Golf is funny,” the Australian veteran said shortly after matching the course record with her 10-under effort.
“When you’ve played it as long as I have professionally you realise some days will be good and some will be bad.”
In a crowded group four shots behind the leader were Thailand’s world No.3 Ariya Jutanugarn and compatriot Wichanee Meechai.
Thursday was good from the get-go as Kirk opened with birdies at 10, 11 and 12 on the par-72 Thornberry Creek course in Oneida, Wisconsin, quickly putting her second-round 83 at last week’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship out of her mind.
She birdied seven of her first nine holes, then birdied three more coming in, hitting 14 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
“Obviously there are good vibes here and I have a lot of confidence on this golf course,” said Kirk, who won with a 22-under par total last year for her third LPGA title and her first in seven years.
“It just suits my eye. So with that being said, you can only play one hole at a time. That’s all I did today. I just stayed in the moment.”
South Korea’s Kim Sei-Young carded a nine-under 63 that included six straight birdies on her back nine. Canada’s Brittany Marchand and American Megan Khang were tied for third on eight-under 64.