Miyazato fires 67 to lead by oneThailand's Numa among chasing pack in Pattaya

The world No 11, who triumphed at this 6,477yard layout in 2010, defied hot and humid conditions to pick up five birdies on the first, ninth, 12th, 14th and 16th holes. The chasing pack includes world No 3 Choi Nayoen of South Korea and her compatriots Se Ri Pak and Amy Yang, 2009 LPGA championship winner Anna Nordqvist of Sweden and Australian Karrie Webb, setting up what promises to be a tight contest over the next two days.
“It was long, hot day for me. But I was calm this morning and was able to control my shots. I made no bogeys but sank several birdies. I hit well and putted well. I’m happy to take the lead and keep the score low,’’ said Miyazato, who, 12 months ago here, hit a 75 on the first day as defending champion before finishing tied 29th.
“Last year I was busy and couldn’t focus on my training. But this year I had a good offseason by spending time with my family back home in Japan and playing with my niece. So I had a great time and had time to practise,’’ said the 26-year-old from Okinawa. Her plan for the next three days is “to survive the soaring temperatures”, which hit 34 degrees C at the Old Course.
“I will have to protect myself from the heat. I will have to use my umbrella a lot tomorrow and need some ice,’’ added the winner of seven LPGA titles, who says she’s enjoying the food in Thailand – especially the noodles and spicy papaya salad.
Australia’s Webb produced a strong back nine, sinking four birdies to finish with an error-free round of 68. “The conditions besides the heat were pretty good. We didn’t have any breeze. I did think the pins were set pretty tough for the first round today,’’ said the winner of 37 titles on the LPGA Tour who spent her off season training in Queensland, Australia.
Swede Nordqvist matched her, carrying the momentum from the Australian Open in Melbourne last week where she finished 10th by carding a bogeyfree 68.
“I finished strong in Australia last weekend. So I had some confidence from that. I just tried to pace myself out there in the heat. I just hit the ball really smooth today so I gave myself a lot of birdie opportunities,’’ said Nordqvist who posted five top10 finishes last year.
Thai hopes rest on Numa Kulyanamitta, who shrugged off a sluggish start to fire a three-underpar 69 in her maiden appearance in an LPGA tournament at home. Caddied by eldest sister Russy, Numa, who was previously known as Junthima, bogeyed her first two par-three holes before regrouping at a later stage by firing three birdies on the 15, 16 and 17 holes for a tied seventh position along with Dutch player Christel Boeljon.
“Today the greens were different from the practise rounds as the ball didn’t bounce. I didn’t make putts on the parthree holes but from then on it was pretty okay for me,’’ said the 24-year-old from Rayong.
“My sister helped me relax by chatting and giving me advice. I could have finished better but I was happy with my firstday result,’’ said the inform Thai, in her fourth LPGA event after the 2010 and 2011 US Open and the last week’s Australian Open.
American Stacy Lewis was at five under before suffering a disastrous triple bogey towards the end, which saw her plummet from the top of the leader board to joint ninth with a 70. Occupying the same spot were 2007 winner Suzann Pettersen of Norway, South Korean Kang Jimin and Shin Jiyai, Americans Brittany Lincicome, Brittany Lang, Tiffany Joh and Katie Futcher, and China’s Feng Shanshan.
Thai No 1 Pornanong Phutlum hit a 71 to take joint 18th place, a stroke better than 28th placed Nontaya Srisawang and American Paula Creamer, who achieved a hole-in-one at the 12th.
Defending champion and world No 1 Tseng Yani shot a oneover 73 to share 36th place with the Jutanugarn sisters, Moriya and Ariya.