Ariya just one shot off the lead in Carlsbad
Park, Hedwall and Stoelting fire 66s to be on top at LPGA Kia Classic while Thai star trails by 1
>> CARLSBAD: Ariya Jutanugarn fired an opening five-under-par 67 to trail the leaders by just one stroke at the LPGA Kia Classic in California on Thursday.
The Thai world No.5, fresh from her joint runner-up finish at the Founders Cup last Sunday, continued her fine form with an impressive round of six birdies and one bogey at Aviara Golf Club.
She was tied for fourth place with veteran American Cristie Kerr, South Korean Kim In-Kyung and Dane Nicole Broch Larsen.
“The weather was quite bad today. It was both windy and rainy. I did well with my irons today and that helped,” said Ariya, who is again playing without a driver in her bag on Thursday.
South Korea’s Park Hee-Young, Sweden’s Caroline Hedwall and American Jackie Stoelting each fired a six-under 66 to share the lead after the first round.
In the final tune-up before next week’s first major championship of the LPGA season at Rancho Mirage, Park and Hedwall opened with bogeyfree rounds.
“It was just a solid day,” Hedwall said. “I hit it really well and started making a couple putts in my back nine. I’m really happy with how I’m playing and looking forward to the rest of the days.”
Hedwall began on the back nine and birdied six of her last 10 holes to join the lead pack. She birdied 18, followed with birdies at the second and third holes, birdied the par-5 fifth and eighth holes and closed with a birdie at the ninth.
Hedwall is winless in 125 LPGA events, her eight titles worldwide including five in Europe and three in Australia, with her most recent at the 2013 Women’s New South Wales Open.
“I feel like my game is really solid. It’s just my putting that I’ve actually been struggling with the past couple of years,” Hedwall said.
“It’s just all about trust and having self-confidence. I feel like I’ve gained that now. I had good practice sessions the last couple of days, and it’s starting to pay off. That’s really nice.”
Park, whose most recent of two LPGA crowns was the 2013 Manulife LPGA Classic, began on the 10th tee as well but saved her best for last, closing with three consecutive birdies in a late-afternoon run.
“The greens are really soft, so easier to play more with the second shot,” Park said. “I tried to leave the uphill putts, so kind of worked well.”
Stoelting, seeking her first LPGA title, took a bogey at the par-three third but responded by making birdies on six of the next nine holes then another to conclude her round. “I hit a lot of fairways. I don’t necessarily hit it far, but keeping it in the fairway is super-key this week,” Stoelting said.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, American Jennifer Song and South Koreans Ryu So-Yeon and Lee Jeong-Eun were tied for eighth on four-under 68.
Thailand’s Thidapa Suwannapura made a solid start with a three-under 69 to stay at joint 12th. Pornanong Phatlum and Wichanee Meechai shot matching 72 as did top-ranked Feng Shanshan of China while Ariya’s sister Moriya was way down the field at tied 85th after a disappointing 73.
LEADING FIRST ROUND SCORES
(USA unless noted, par-72)
66 — Park Hee-Young (KOR), Jackie Stoelting, Caroline Hedwall (SWE)
67 — Cristie Kerr, Kim In-Kyung (KOR), Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Nicole Broch Larsen (DEN) 68 — Ryu So-Yeon (KOR), Jennifer Song, Lydia Ko (NZL), Lee Jeong-eun (KOR)
69 — Brooke Henderson (CAN), Lizette Salas, Danielle Kang, Austin Ernst, Bronte Law (ENG), Thidapa Suwannapura (THA), Cindy LaCrosse, Beatriz Recari (ESP), Kelly Shon, Ryann O’Toole
Selected scores
70 — Lexi Thompson
71 — Park In-Bee (KOR)
72 — Feng Shanshan (CHN), Pornanong Phatlum (THA), Wichanee Meechai (THA)
73 — Moriya Jutanugarn (THA)