Ko makes mixed start

Kiwi golf ace Lydia Ko eventually made a solid start in the Palos Verdes Championship following an opening round full of highs and lows in California.

Ko signed for a two-under 69 in the opening round yesterday.

She is one of 16 players tied for a share of 21st place, six shots behind outright leader Minjee Lee who opened with an eight-under 63.

At times, Ko’s form was blistering on the coast-side Palos Verdes Estates course.

She registered three consecutive birdies from the seventh and ninth holes with three more shots picked up on the first, 16th and 18th holes.

Her birdie on the 16th was a special save after playing out of the bunker.

But Ko’s round was blighted by four bogeys.

Her, at times, brilliant work was undone by dropping shots on the par-four third, par-four fifth and par-four 12th.

Another shot was lost on the parthree 17th.

Ko’s birdie on the par-four 18th was another critical save to keep her in contention.

At the top of the leaderboard, Lee’s round was faultless with eight birdies.