Ko out front as LPGA returns to Lake Merced

DALY CITY, California — Lydia Ko was back on top at Lake Merced.

Ko shot a 4-under 68 on a chilly Thursday morning at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship for a share of the first-round lead. Jessica Korda, Caroline Hedwall, In-Kyung Kim and Su Oh joined Ko atop the leaderboard in the LPGA Tour’s return to Lake Merced after a year away.

“This is a golf course where you need to drive the ball well and putt well,” said Ko, the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic winner at the course in 2014 and 2015.

Ko eagled the par-5 fifth and had four birdies and a bogey. The New Zealander has 14 LPGA Tour wins, the last in July 2016.

“It’s nice to come back to a place where you feel super-welcomed,” Ko said. “It just brings back a lot of great memories . ... My family and friends are here this week, so I’m hoping that I’m going to continue the solid play.” She turned 21 on Tuesday. “I don’t think I feel a huge difference, but I know turning 21 is a huge thing in the U.S.,” Ko said, “So, I’m legal and I can do some fun things now.”

Korda, playing alongside Kim a group ahead of Ko, also eagled the fifth and had four birdies and a bogey. Korda won in Thailand in February in her return from reconstructive jaw surgery.

“The score says one thing and my hands say another,” Korda said. “It was really cold out there today, so it was good that I stuck to kind of my process . ... Actually, this is still some of the nicer conditions that we’ve played in compared to the past. I’ll take the cold as long as there’s no rain.”

Hedwall and Kim each had five birdies and a bogey.

Top-ranked Inbee Park matched playing partner Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., with a 72. Hamilton’s Alena Sharp was also tied with Park and Henderson for 39th at 72.