Error-free Ariya fires a 66 to share lead with Yang @ Honda LPGA Thailand
World No 2 Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand and 2015 champion Amy Yang of Taiwan carded an opening 66 to share the first round lead of the US$1.6 Million Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course on Thursday.
The Thai high hope produced an impressive error free form while Yang sank seven birdies against one bogey at the par 72 6,642 yard course.
“I feel really good with my iron today. Like especially tee shot is pretty good. I just try to like have like myself have a chance to make birdie. The green is pretty tough to read also,” said Jutanugarn whose best attempt in the event was a runner-up to Inbee Park of South Korea in 2013.
Yang whose one of two career titles took place on this course in 2015. Her opening scorecard consisted of seven birdies and a lone bogey on the 10th.
“I was hitting it pretty good out there. In the middle, during the round, I had some time I couldn't control the ball, but I still had a lot of good shots. Gave myself a lot of good opportunities out there. Just enjoying so much out here,” said the Taiwanese who has yet to win a title after her championship here.
A stroke behind were American Ryann O’Toole, South Korean Sei Young Kim, Australian Minjee Lee and Chinese Shanshan Feng, who is playing in her first event after winning the Dubai Ladies Masters last year.
World No 1 Lydia Ko, with five birdies against three bogeys, opened her 2017 campaign with a 70 while former world No 1 Inbee Park hit a 72 in her first action since winning the Olympic Games last year,
“I'm feeling really good. I don't feel much of the injury anymore. I feel like I'm really free of injury. Ball-striking was really good today. Just around the greens wasn't as sharp as I wanted. Obviously that's just going to happen. Just got to be patient,” said Inbee, winner here in 2013.
