Sisters pair up for 59 in best ball to lead LPGA event by two

Thai sisters Ariya and Moriya Jutanugarn shot an 11-under 59 in best-ball play to take a two-stroke lead in the LPGA Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in Midland, Mich.

The Jutanugarns had a 14under 126 total at rainy Midland Country Club after opening with a 67 on Wednesday in alternate- shot play. They will play alternate shot Friday and close with best ball Saturday.

“I think just playing together with my sister makes it more comfortable because we can support each other,” Moriya said. “Like when I had trouble or like hit a bad shot she’d cover it, or when she doesn’t hit a good shot, I’m just trying to cover it. It seems like that’s how you should play the best-ball format.”

Two-time major champion Ariya got things going, birdieing the first two holes and four of the first five. Moriya added birdies on Nos. 6, 7 and 12, Ariya birdied No. 14, they both birdied Nos. 15 and 17, and Moriya birdied 18.

“She’s really solid, really consistent,” Ariya said. “Every time she hits the ball I feel like I have no worry, so I know where the ball is going to go. Even if she misses, it’s going to be fine. When you have partners, you have really solid golf, you kind of just go for it, go for the pin and hit it hard, so you have no fear.”

Fellow Thai player Pajaree Anannarukarn and India’s Aditi Ashok were second after a 63. Anannarukarn eagled the par-4 12th.

“It got really soft, so whatever irons or wedges I had, I was just trying to go straight at the pin pretty much,” Ashok said. “I think that helped make a few birdies toward the end after the rain.”

Stuard finishes with 64

Brian Stuard shot an 8-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead in the suspended first round of the PGA Tour’s Barbasol Championship in Nicholasville, Ky.

Play was suspended twice in the afternoon because of rain and lightning, with 30 players unable to finish before dark.

After dropping a stroke on the par-4 18th to finish his opening nine, Stuard birdied five of the next six holes in the morning round at Keene Trace.

“I felt like my iron play was nice today,” Stuard said. “I didn’t think I drove it well, but there’s not a lot of rough so you can kind of attack from anywhere, so that’s what I was able to do.”

Among other notables, Jason Dufner shot 67, and John Daly had two double bogeys in a 76.