CATRIONA MATTHEW LYING JOINT THIRD IN THAILAND
Catriona Matthew shot a five-under-par 67 to be sharing third place at the end of the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand 72-hole tournament at Chonburi Golf Club.
American Stacy Lewis, a former US Curtis Cup player, set the pace with a nine-under-par 63 for a lead of three shots over France's Karine Icher.
The American, who won five out of five ties in the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews, had an eagle on the par-4 third hole and added four more birdies on the front nine at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. She had two more birdies before a bogey at No. 16.
The 2012 LPGA Tour player of the year birdied the last two holes to finish three strokes ahead of Karine Icher (66).
"I really started hitting the ball solid early on. Holed out for eagle on No. 3 and that shot just really gave me the confidence to start swinging at it," said Lewis, a six-time LPGA winner, including the 2011 Kraft Nabisco.
"I think I missed two greens all day. I just had a ton of birdie putts, and I even left a few out there."
Inbee Park, Amy Yang, Catriona Matthew and Gerina Piller were four strokes behind. Top-ranked Yani Tseng was well off the pace at 3 over after a round with five bogeys.
Lewis said she left two birdie putts a half-roll short before she made an eagle on the third hole.
"I was a little frustrated going to No. 3," she said. "I think I had about 145 to the pin and I hit an 8-iron. It landed a few feet short, and all the fans' hands went up, so I knew it went in. I guess it was just perfect."
Icher had a bogey-free round, marking a vast improvement on her final round at the Australian Women's Open last week in which she shot a 75 to finish tied for 55th.
"Last week I played really well, but I missed all of the putts," Icher said. "I'm happy because I improved my putting today, and it's a good sign for the rest of the season."
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
63 Stacy Lewis (US)
66 Karine Icher (France)
67 Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Gerina Piller (US), Inbee Park (South Korea), Amy Yang (South Korea).
SELECTED SCORES
69 Lydia Ko (NZ) (amateur) (T10)
77 Jodi Ewart (England) (T65)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
American Stacy Lewis, a former US Curtis Cup player, set the pace with a nine-under-par 63 for a lead of three shots over France's Karine Icher.
The American, who won five out of five ties in the 2008 Curtis Cup match over the Old Course, St Andrews, had an eagle on the par-4 third hole and added four more birdies on the front nine at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course. She had two more birdies before a bogey at No. 16.
The 2012 LPGA Tour player of the year birdied the last two holes to finish three strokes ahead of Karine Icher (66).
"I really started hitting the ball solid early on. Holed out for eagle on No. 3 and that shot just really gave me the confidence to start swinging at it," said Lewis, a six-time LPGA winner, including the 2011 Kraft Nabisco.
"I think I missed two greens all day. I just had a ton of birdie putts, and I even left a few out there."
Inbee Park, Amy Yang, Catriona Matthew and Gerina Piller were four strokes behind. Top-ranked Yani Tseng was well off the pace at 3 over after a round with five bogeys.
Lewis said she left two birdie putts a half-roll short before she made an eagle on the third hole.
"I was a little frustrated going to No. 3," she said. "I think I had about 145 to the pin and I hit an 8-iron. It landed a few feet short, and all the fans' hands went up, so I knew it went in. I guess it was just perfect."
Icher had a bogey-free round, marking a vast improvement on her final round at the Australian Women's Open last week in which she shot a 75 to finish tied for 55th.
"Last week I played really well, but I missed all of the putts," Icher said. "I'm happy because I improved my putting today, and it's a good sign for the rest of the season."
LEADERBOARD
Par 72
63 Stacy Lewis (US)
66 Karine Icher (France)
67 Catriona Matthew (Scotland), Gerina Piller (US), Inbee Park (South Korea), Amy Yang (South Korea).
SELECTED SCORES
69 Lydia Ko (NZ) (amateur) (T10)
77 Jodi Ewart (England) (T65)
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: LPGA TOUR
posted by Colin |
See story on its own page | 12:12:00 pm
<< Home