LAURA DAVIES HAS 77 BLOWS AT CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA

CATRIONA (74) STRUGGLES AS

 PAULA SHARES LEADS WITH 67

FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
 World No 8 Paula Creamer and Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe share the first-round lead at the Kia Classic after both carded 5-under 67s during Thursday’s opening round of play at Park Hyatt Aviara Golf Resort, Carlsbad, California.

 A group of four players, including No. 7 Shanshan Feng, No. 12 Cristie Kerr, Yorkshire's Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea are one shot back in a tie for third at 5-under par.
Catriona Matthew's two-over 74 has her on the borderline for making the cut but Laura Davies, after coming home in 42 shots for a 77, is up against it.
Creamer set the tone early in the morning wave with six birdies and a bogey and said taking advantage of the early tee time was key.
“What this golf course is about is starting early and taking those advantages, and the closer you hit it, too, the easier it is, but the greens are pretty soft still,” said Creamer. 
“You know, they released a little bit today, but hopefully they won’t put too much water on it this afternoon and going into tomorrow and especially into Sunday.”
Creamer said good iron play into the greens kept her birdie putt chances short.
“I played pretty solid,” said Creamer. “I had one bogey, but I gave myself a bunch of opportunities, and you know, putted really well, made some good 2‑putts. 
"And I think it’s an advantage playing early in the morning, and I wanted to take that advantage and try and get as many birdies, but eliminate the bogeys.”
Uribe was playing in the second to last group of the day and finished under a nearly set sun at 7:30 p.m. local time. The slow pace led to a darker finish than normal and pushed the players to finish the final holes more quickly than they hoped.
“It was just a rush at the end.” Uribe said. “You don’t want to come at 5am next morning to warm up and play one hole. 
"We were trying to play as fast as we could and we were always waiting, but I just tried to stay calm. It has affected me in the past but I am glad it didn’t today.”
Her bogey-free round of 67 was her low round of the year.
“I took advantage of the first couple of holes where the greens weren’t that bad.” said Uribe. “I made four birdies on the first five holes and just took it from there. 
"Stayed pretty calm, we were playing pretty slow out there so, just a lot of time down didn’t really think about it that much.”
Creamer, already a winner this year with a victory in Singapore, headed to the range after her round after having some trouble off the tee.
“I missed a couple of fairways out there, which is not really normal for me,” said Creamer. “I normally hit a lot of fairways and greens, and I missed a couple in the rough. And you know, I’m going to definitely go hit some balls to fix that.”
World No 1 Inbee Park has three top-10 finishes in the three LPGA events she has played in this year and is on here way to adding her fourth. With a 69 in the bag, Park came off the course pleased with her overall play but felt she left a few opportunities out there.
“Today was like the day I could have gone 10-under, but still in the 60’s.” Park said. “That’s all right. Three more days, keep the ball striking like this this week and next week and I think I will be good.”
In order to take advantage of missed opportunities, Park pointed out some improvement needed while putting.
“I missed a lot within 10 feet today.” Park said. “Missed probably seven, and I just haven’t been putting that well the last few weeks.”
Pink Thursday
Players, staff and fans were encouraged to wear pink on Thursday to help raise awareness for breast cancer and in support of LPGA Tour player, Lisa Ferrero, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in January. 
Creamer, who is affectionately known as “The Pink Panther” on Tour had no trouble picking out an outfit on Thursday but also said how important it is for players to get on board to bring awareness to finding a cure.
“It’s very important,” said Creamer. “We have October, breast cancer month, but every month, every day we have to take such an importance into that. 
"I think, as a woman, and as I’m getting older and things like that, it’s even more important to teach the generations about that.”
Short stuff
Defending champion Beatriz Recari finished the day tied for 30th after a 71
 Wolrd No 2 Suzann Pettersen withdrew prior to the first round due to back spasms 
Pettersen released the news on her Twitter account saying “I tweaked my back Monday and haven’t been able to do much since.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Derek and I actually have a, I guess it’s like a promise/contract between us. Whoever makes our first win, so he would have to win on Web.com or PGA, we take the other person’s name. If I make an LPGA win before he takes a win, he’s going to take Pancake.”
- Brooke Pancake explaining the agreement she and her husband, Derek Rende, made when figuring out how to deal with a possible last name change.


FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72. Players from USA unles stated
67 Paula Creamer, Mariajo Uribe (Colombia)
68 Shanshan Feng (China), Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England), Mi Hyang Lee (S Korea), Cristie Kerr
69 Lizette Salas, Lexi Thompson, Inbee Park (S Korea), Tiffany Joh, Azahara Munoz (Spain)

SELECTED SCORES
70 Michelle Wie, Caroline Masson (Germany), Stacy Lewis, Becky Morgan (Wales) (T12).
71 Beatriz Recari (Spain), Belen Mozo (Spain)
73 Carlota Ciganda (Spain), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) (T52)
74 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) (T71)
75 Felicity Johnson (England) (T85)
77 Laura Davies (England) (T117)

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