THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

Strong start for Ariya in Phoenix

Strong start for Ariya in Phoenix

Ariya Jutanugarn opened her campaign in the LPGA Founders Cup in style as she shot a 68 to follow co-leaders  Karine Icher of France and Chella Choi of South Korea by a stroke in Phoenix, Arezona on Thursday.

The former world No 1 generated three straight birdies before she committeed a lone bogey on the 15th hole, followed by two more birdies on the third and fifth holes to take the joint third place along with with players.

"I start on back nine and I have three birdies in a row. Pretty good start. I had so much fun. I haven't played with Jess (Jessica Korda)  for a long time, and really see some amazing shot from here," said Ariya.

"I mean, I have great memory here, so I love this event. You know, like all the people come support all the players, especially like American. It's so much fun," added Ariya who was followed a shot behind by countrywoman Pornanong Phatlum.

France's Karine  fired seven birdies in a five-under par 67. In chilly, windy weather Icher teed off early and got off to a blazing start with five birdies in her first eight holes.

She added birdies at 11 and 14 to get to seven-under, but as the wind increased she bogeyed 15 and 18.

"I made some good putts and that made the difference," Icher said. "I hit good second shots. On this course, if you start getting confidence you can go low.

"It was a good front nine. On the back nine, I made two bogeys at the end, but with the wind picking up, it's a little bit hard."

Icher, who owns 45 top-10 finishes on the LPGA tour, is seeking her first title.

Choi lit up the leaderboard in the afternoon. She teed off on 10 and had four birdies in her first five holes en route to her share of the lead.

After two more birdies coming in she made her lone bogey of the day at her final hole, three-putting the ninth.

"It was windy and tough every hole out there," Choi said. "Every player was in the same position, I tried to calm myself and control myself."

Half a dozen players were a shot off the pace on four-under par 68. That included seven-time major champion Park In-bee of South Korea.

Eight players on 69 included American Jessica Korda, who won two weeks ago in Thailand, and defending champion Anna Nordqvist of Sweden.

Nordqvist made four birdies on Thursday against just one bogey at her last to post a 69 to open her title defense. 

"I played really solid today," Nordqvist said. "It was a really hard wind. It was gusty and very cold, so it was hard to gauge yardages."

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