Hataoka grabs LPGA lead in Incheon

INCHEON, South Korea, Oct 11, (AFP): Japanese teenager Nasa Hataoka fired a seven-under-par 65 to secure a two-stroke lead in the first round of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship on Thursday, with world number one Park Sunghyun another shot behind.

Hataoka, who is only 19 and on her second tour season but ranks 14th in the world, carded eight birdies to grab the solo lead on a blustery day at the Sky 72 Golf Club’s Ocean Course in Incheon, her round only spoiled by a bogey on the 17th.

“I nailed a lot of long putts today and read the greens really well,” Hataoka said after the round. and England’s Charley Hull were tied for second place, two strokes adrift.

Kang – who is ethnically Korean – said the conditions were “tough” but

Nasa Hataoka of Japan watches her shot on the 18th hole during the first round of the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship at Sky72 Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea, Oct

11. (AP)

focused on “keeping it steady, keeping consistent” as she was cheered on by friends and family.

“I absolutely love playing in Korea,” the 25-year-old said. “And I’m playing good which makes it even better because Korea, you know, they love when you play well and they just cheer you on and I like that.”

Top-ranked Park of South Korea finished the first round at four-under 68, tied for fourth place with Minjee Lee of Australia.

65 – Nasa Hataoka (JPN); 67 – Charley Hull (ENG), Danielle Kang (USA); 68 – Minjee Lee (AUS), Park Sung-hyun (KOR); 69 – Yu Liu (CHN), Jang Ha-na (KOR), Kim Ji-hyun (KOR), Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Amy Olson (USA); 70 – Lydia Ko (AUS), Chun In-gee (KOR), Anna Nordqvist (SWE), Lindy Duncan (USA); 71 – Xiang Sui (CHN), Azahara Munoz (ESP), Sandra Gal (GER), Bae Seon-woo (KOR), Kim Sei-young (KOR), Ko Jin-young (KOR)