LORENA OCHOA INVITATIONAL AT MEXICO CITY
KIM PRODUCES HER SUNDAY BEST ON
DAY 1 FOR A CHANGE
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Christina Kim fired an opening round 65 (-7) and heads into Friday with a one-stroke lead over Azahara Munoz at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at the Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City.
Thanks to two eagles, at the second and 17th holes, Kim leads for the first time since the 2008 LPGA State Farm Classic when she finished tied ninth.
“It seems like every Sunday I’ve been playing well.” Kim said. “Just shoot myself in the foot the first couple rounds, so before we started, TJ (caddie TJ Jones) said, ‘You know what? Let’s pretend it’s Sunday and go from there.’ It’s been a lot of fun.”
Kim is looking for her first win since The Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions in 2005.
Spaniard Munoz, who needs a top-four finish at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to jump into the top-nine of the Race to the CME Globe point standings, had an eagle of her own on 17 to tie Kim for the lead before a bogey on 18 dropped her one stroke off the lead.
Munoz has felt at home in Mexico and credits that with her strong opening round
“You know, you have to hit really good drives and hit good shots into the greens. And I like that. I love that the greens are really quick.” Munoz described.
“Most of the time, I really struggle getting the ball to the hole but here, I don’t have to worry about that. Definitely the ball is getting there. People treat me like I’m from Mexico, so that’s really nice."
Christina Kim is one of three LPGA players who played in all six of the LPGA’s Asian swing and are playing in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Kim traveled to Mexico City from Japan
“I was jet-lagged earlier this week. Got in Monday afternoon. It was a long six weeks considering we probably ended up with 3 1/2 ft of rain in those tournaments.” Kim joked.
“But I had a wonderful time. I always love going to new countries or returning to other countries I haven’t been to in a few years. You know there are no cuts.
"You’re just there to tinker with stuff and try things out and just go out there and have fun and really absorb the culture. That’s what I did the last few weeks. Really working on being well rested and trying to get enough sleep. I think I’m back on the clock now.”
Eight golfers who played last week in Japan travelled to play at Mexico City this week. The three players competed in all six stops on the Asian leg of the Tour are noted with an * after their names:
Christina Kim*
Pernilla Lindberg*
Morgan Pressel
Mi Hyang Lee*
Catriona Matthew
Angela Stanford
Stacy Lewis
Pornanong Phatlum
LAST CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR CME
The Lorena Ochoa Invitational marks the final week for players to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship.
It also marks the final week for players to jump into the top-nine or top-three spots in the Race to the CME Globe for a chance at $1 million. Only the top-nine players have a chance to win the $1 million prize, while the top-three control their own destiny with a win at CME.
Visit www.lpga.com/race-to-cme-globe for more information on how the Race to the CME Globe works and the points breakdown.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SOME INFORMATION ON CATRIONA MATTHEW'S OPENING ROUND
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72. Players from USA unless stated
65 Christina Kim
66 Azahara Munoz (Spain)
68 Lydia Ko (New Zealand)
69 Pornang Phatlum (Thailand), Gerina Piller, Lizette Salas
70 Karine Icher (France), Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, So Yeon Rhu (South Korea), Lexi Thompson, Inbee Park (South Korea).
SELECTED SCORES
71 Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) (T14)
72 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) (T20)
73 Line Videl (Denmark), Michelle Wie, Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden) (T24)
76 Stacy Lewis, Caroline Masson (Germany) (T31).
Field of 36 players.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
DAY 1 FOR A CHANGE
FROM THE LPGA TOUR WEBSITE
Christina Kim fired an opening round 65 (-7) and heads into Friday with a one-stroke lead over Azahara Munoz at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational at the Club de Golf Mexico in Mexico City.
Thanks to two eagles, at the second and 17th holes, Kim leads for the first time since the 2008 LPGA State Farm Classic when she finished tied ninth.
“It seems like every Sunday I’ve been playing well.” Kim said. “Just shoot myself in the foot the first couple rounds, so before we started, TJ (caddie TJ Jones) said, ‘You know what? Let’s pretend it’s Sunday and go from there.’ It’s been a lot of fun.”
Kim is looking for her first win since The Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions in 2005.
Spaniard Munoz, who needs a top-four finish at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational to jump into the top-nine of the Race to the CME Globe point standings, had an eagle of her own on 17 to tie Kim for the lead before a bogey on 18 dropped her one stroke off the lead.
Munoz has felt at home in Mexico and credits that with her strong opening round
“You know, you have to hit really good drives and hit good shots into the greens. And I like that. I love that the greens are really quick.” Munoz described.
“Most of the time, I really struggle getting the ball to the hole but here, I don’t have to worry about that. Definitely the ball is getting there. People treat me like I’m from Mexico, so that’s really nice."
Christina Kim is one of three LPGA players who played in all six of the LPGA’s Asian swing and are playing in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational. Kim traveled to Mexico City from Japan
“I was jet-lagged earlier this week. Got in Monday afternoon. It was a long six weeks considering we probably ended up with 3 1/2 ft of rain in those tournaments.” Kim joked.
“But I had a wonderful time. I always love going to new countries or returning to other countries I haven’t been to in a few years. You know there are no cuts.
"You’re just there to tinker with stuff and try things out and just go out there and have fun and really absorb the culture. That’s what I did the last few weeks. Really working on being well rested and trying to get enough sleep. I think I’m back on the clock now.”
Eight golfers who played last week in Japan travelled to play at Mexico City this week. The three players competed in all six stops on the Asian leg of the Tour are noted with an * after their names:
Christina Kim*
Pernilla Lindberg*
Morgan Pressel
Mi Hyang Lee*
Catriona Matthew
Angela Stanford
Stacy Lewis
Pornanong Phatlum
LAST CHANCE TO QUALIFY FOR CME
The Lorena Ochoa Invitational marks the final week for players to qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship.
It also marks the final week for players to jump into the top-nine or top-three spots in the Race to the CME Globe for a chance at $1 million. Only the top-nine players have a chance to win the $1 million prize, while the top-three control their own destiny with a win at CME.
Visit www.lpga.com/race-to-cme-globe for more information on how the Race to the CME Globe works and the points breakdown.
SCROLL DOWN FOR SOME INFORMATION ON CATRIONA MATTHEW'S OPENING ROUND
FIRST-ROUND LEADERBOARD
Par 72. Players from USA unless stated
65 Christina Kim
66 Azahara Munoz (Spain)
68 Lydia Ko (New Zealand)
69 Pornang Phatlum (Thailand), Gerina Piller, Lizette Salas
70 Karine Icher (France), Brittany Lincicome, Morgan Pressel, Paula Creamer, So Yeon Rhu (South Korea), Lexi Thompson, Inbee Park (South Korea).
SELECTED SCORES
71 Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Anna Nordqvist (Sweden) (T14)
72 Catriona Matthew (Scotland) (T20)
73 Line Videl (Denmark), Michelle Wie, Pernilla Lindberg (Sweden) (T24)
76 Stacy Lewis, Caroline Masson (Germany) (T31).
Field of 36 players.
TO VIEW ALL THE SCORES
CLICK HERE
Labels: LPGA TOUR
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