Australia’s Minjee Lee made a solid start to the LPGA’s tour championship but her chances of winning the season-long points race have taken a hit in Florida.
Lee started the championship at Tiburon Golf Club with a two-under par 70 today.
But she is seven shots behind first-round leader Amy Olson of the United States, who started with a dazzling 63.
Perth’s Lee was ranked second behind Ariya Jutanugarn on the points race coming into this week, with a great chance of winning the $US 1 million prize bonus on offer.
But she has slipped to a third seeding after the first round. But Jutanugarn also started without a bang and Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, who is tied-second behind Olson, is now the No. 1 seeded player.
Katherine Kirk and Sarah Jane Smith also carded two-under 70s while Su Oh (71) and Hannah Green (73) are farther back in the field.
ON THE PGA Tour Aaron Baddeley is the best of the Australians after the first round of the GSM Classic in Georgia, carding a five-under par 67 to be tied-fourth.
IN DUBAI, Wade Ormsby started the European Tour’s season-ending championship with a 69 to be tied-10th through one round. The other Australian in the field, Lucas Herbert, started with a 74.