Steady Ko keeps in touch with leaders on tricky day

No 1-ranked Ariya Jutanugarn’s 3m birdie putt on the 17th hole gave her a 4-under 68 and a five-way share of the first-round lead at the HSBC Women’s World Championship yesterday.

Tied with Jutanugarn were No 3 Minjee Lee, Amy Olson, Yu Liu and Celine Boutier, who won her first LPGA tournament three weeks ago at the Vic Open in Australia.

No 302 Sun Hyun Park bogeyed 18 after hitting her approach into a bunker for a 69 to drop into a sevenway tie for sixth, one stroke behind the leaders in Singapore.

New Zealand’s former world

No 1 Lydia Ko shot 72 and is in a tie for 22nd spot but only four shots off the lead.

After an eagle on the eighth, her second-last hole, Olson just missed a 9m birdie putt on the ninth hole.

“It’s not a long par 5 but it’s a very challenging approach shot from that far,” the American said of the eighth. “You can’t be short because you’ll be in the hazard, and then it’s a really tough bunker shot for that pin if you go over the green.

“I hit a really nice, high shot, so it would come in soft and it just ended up being perfect.”

Scoring conditions on Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong layout were difficult most of the day yesterday because of gusty winds and slick greens.