Lee (63) tops board at hilly Palos Verdes

Minjee Lee shot an eightunder 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko after the first round of the Palos Verdes Championship.

Coming off a third-place tie in the LA Open at Wilshire Country Club, Lee had a bogey-free round at hilly Palos Verdes Golf Club in the first-year event that wraps up the LPGA Tour’s West Coast swing.

“I took Monday off. Didn’t even come to the course,” Lee said. “Tuesday, I played nine holes and then I saw the other nine in the pro-am. I think it’s so hilly out here that you want to keep your legs fresh.”

The Australian closed with a five-under 31 on the front nine.

Charley Hull, Moriya Jutanugarn and Jennifer Chang shot 65. Albane Valenzuela and Gemma Dryburgh were at 66, with Dryburgh having the best round in the breezier afternoon session. The Scot holed a six-iron for eagle on the parfour fifth.

“That was pretty special,” Dryburgh said.

Anna Davis, 16, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur winner, opened with a 71 in her first LPGA Tour start.

Rahm shares lead in Mexico Open

Jon Rahm is the biggest star in the Mexico Open and he lived up to his billing, chipping in for birdie and making a late eagle putt for a seven-under 64 and a fiveway share of the early lead in Puerto Vallarta.

Jonathan Byrd, Brendon Todd, Trey Mullinax, Kurt Kitayama and Monday qualifier Bryson Nimmer also were at 64. Nimmer played his final five holes in five under, including a bunker shot he holed out for eagle on the par-five sixth hole.

Etc.

The 150th British Open is expected to attract a recordbreaking crowd of 290,000 when St. Andrews hosts in July, organizers said . ... The men’s and women’s Australian Open are set to be played at the same time on two sandbelt courses in Melbourne in December.