Birdies help Ko gain twostroke lead in Gainbridge LPGA

GOLF

ORLANDO, Florida: New Zealand’s Lydia Ko birdied three of the last five holes yesterday to lead the Gainbridge LPGA by two strokes after one round in Orlando.

Looking confident on her home course at the Lake Nona Golf and Country Club, Ko opened with an eagle at the par4 first hole and closed with a long birdie putt at the par4 18th for a 7under 65.

A bogey on the par4 seventh was her round’s only blemish.

‘‘I think I hit the ball really well today,’’ Ko said.

‘‘To be on the fairways is key, because [they] have just done a great job of growing the rough and making it tough.’’

Ko (23) won her 15th and most recent LPGA Tour title at the LPGA Mediheal Championship in April 2018.

‘‘It’s a bit of an advantage,’’ Ko said of playing on her home track.

‘‘But at the same time I feel like you still need to hit good shots and be committed out there.

‘‘I feel like I was able to do that pretty well.’’

Nelly Korda and Denmark’s Nanna Koerstz Madsen are two strokes back after carding rounds of 5under 67. Each had six birdies and one bogey on the day.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES In the swing . . . New Zealander Lydia Ko tees off on hole 2 during the opening round of the Grainbridge LPGA in Orlando, Florida, yesterday.