Asians set pace in US Women’s Open
BEDMINSTER, N.J. — Shanshan Feng of China shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 and took a one-shot lead over Amy Yang of South Korea early in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open at a quiet Trump National Golf Club.
Despite complaints over playing the biggest event in women’s golf on a course owned by President Donald Trump, there were no apparent protests Thursday over his comments about women. The road outside the club was relatively traffic free and those in in attendance were there for the golf.
Lydia Ko of New Zealand played in the same threesome with Feng and is tied for third at 68 with top-ranked So Yeon Ryu of South Korea.
Cristie Kerr and Megan Khang were the best U.S. finishers, tied for fifth with three others at 69.
Feng has played on the LPGA Tour since 2007. She started her round on the 10th hole and played the back side in 5 under, rolling in five birdies. She added another at No. 1 and then parred her last eight holes.
Yang has two seconds, a third and a fourth in this event in the last five years. She had six birdies and a bogey in her round. She took advantage of the back nine, playing it in 4 under.
Canada’s Brooke Henderson, ranked No. 8, and In Gee Chun, who won this event two years ago, were in a group at 70, one shot ahead of No. 3 Lexi Thompson and former No. 1 Stacy Lewis (University of Arkansas) in the group at 1 under.
The most surprising morning round was by Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand. The world’s No. 2 woman shot 79.
John Deere Classic
SILVIS, Ill. — Charles Howell III and Ollie Schniederjans each shot 8-under 63 on Thursday to share the first-round lead in the John Deere Classic.
Playing alongside local favorite Zach Johnson, Howell birdied seven his first nine holes and added a birdie on No. 7 in his morning round at rain-softened TPC Deere Run. The two-time PGA Tour winner lost a playoff to Kyle Stanley two weeks ago in the Quicken Loans National.
“This morning without traffic, they were rolling like carpet,” Howell said. “This morning was absolutely the best scoring we’ll see all week, which would also lead me to believe that tomorrow morning you’re going to see some low scores as well. Here, it’s about minimizing bogeys as much as you can and take advantage of the holes that you need to.”
Schniederjans birdied five of his last eight holes in his lowest round of the PGA Tour. The 24-year-old former Georgia Tech star earned a PGA Tour card last year through the Web.com Tour.
“I haven’t had a great start really all year on the first round,” Schniederjans said. “I have had some decent first rounds and good Fridays, but this is the first really goof round I’ve had on Thursday. It’s nice to get off to a good start and hopefully keep it going.”
Johnson was two strokes back at 65 along with Rory Sabbatini, Patrick Rodgers and Chad Campbell. Johnson, from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the 2012 tournament.
Senior Players
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Larry Mize had such a good day, even his flubbed shots ended up being effective.
Mize birdied half the holes and shot an 8-under 64 on Thursday for a one-stroke lead over Bernhard Langer, Corey Pavin and Steve Flesch after the opening round of the Senior Players Championship.
Seeking his second win on the PGA Tour Champions, the 58-year-old Mize was 5 under after the front nine. He made his only bogey on the par-4 10th hole, but rebounded with birdies on 14, 15 and 16.
“On 15, I hit the 5-iron a little thin but got away with it. Missed it in the right spot and made the putt,” Mize said. “That’s what you’ve got to do when you have these rounds — miss it in the right spot at the right time. That’s what I did today.”
That kind of good fortune, along with a 50-foot putt for a birdie on the ninth hole, provided Mize with the second-best round of his PGA Tour Champions career.
Langer, the three-time defending champion, had a bogey-free round on the 7,196-yard Caves Valley Golf Course.
“I played very nicely, played smart, played well,” he said.
The 59-year-old German has already won three events and $1.8 million this year, leaving little doubt that he’s the player to beat this weekend.
“I don’t know if words can do justice to what he’s done to stay that focused, that on top of it,” Mize said.
Mize won the 2010 Montreal Championship for his lone senior title. He won the 1987 Masters and three regular PGA Tour titles.