Golf: Canadian Tanguay shoots 66, two shots back at Australian LPGA event

Thursday’s 66 was the lowest round of AnneCatherine Tanguay’s LPGA career.

BARWON HEADS, AUSTRALIA— Felicity Johnson made a late move up the leaderboard Thursday at the LPGA’s Vic Open to take a two-stroke lead over Canadian Anne-Catherine Tanguay and two others after the opening round.

The Englishwoman shot an 8-under 65 on the Creek course at the 13th Beach Golf Links, where men and women played in alternate groups in the unique tournament format also sanctioned by the men’s European Tour.

Su Oh of Australia had a holein-one and had held the lead for most of the day with Quebec City’s Tanguay, both at 6 under. The 66 was the lowest round of Tanguay’s LPGA career. Kim Kaufman joined them in a tie for second with a 66 in the afternoon.

Oh aced the 138-metre par-3 15th hole with a 6-iron.

Tanguay played the par-72 Beach course and shot 66, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens.

It’s Tanguay’s third full LPGA season. Ranked 310th in the world, Tanguay’s best career finish is a tie for 16th at the 2018 Cambia Portland Classic.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp is tied for 10th at 4 under. Jaclyn Lee of Calgary, making her pro debut, and Brittany Marchand of Orangeville, Ont., are tied for 97th at 1 over.

Nick Flanagan, an Australian who won the 2003 U.S. Amateur, shot a 10-under 62 on the Creek course to take a twostroke lead in the men’s tournament.

Among those tied for second were Flanagan’s roommate, James Nitties, and Kurt Kitaya- ma, Hugo Leon and Callum Shinkwin.

Tournament officials said Nitties, who started on the back nine at the Beach course, tied a record for consecutive birdies with nine, equaling Mark Calcavecchia’s record at the 2009 Canadian Open at Glen Abbey in Oakville. Unfortunately for Nitties, he double-bogeyed his fifth hole before making birdie on the last four holes of the back nine and the first five on the front.