American Jane Park shot a six-under-par 66 to take the first-round lead at the LPGA Tour&aposs Kia Classic on Thursday with Australia&aposs Karrie Webb hot on her heels. Park went bogey-free in her first 18 holes at the Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad, California, to lead by a stroke from Webb and Sweden&aposs Caroline Hedwall. Webb dropped a lone shot on her back nine but gained it back immediately to finish on five under, while Hedwall began strongly with six birdies in her front nine before slipping up the way in, mixing two birdies with a bogey and a double bogey. Tied for fourth are Giulia Sergas of Italy and American Jessica Korda on four under, with the latter on course for a share of the lead before giving up two strokes on her final four holes of the day. Sergas went four under on her front nine, and that was how her scorecard looked at the day&aposs end as she finished two strokes back from leader Park. Rounding out the top 10 is a group of 11 tied for sixth, including world number four Park Inbee, all on three under. World number one Stacy Lewis is a further stroke back on two under, in a tie for 17th. Lewis began with a bang, holing three straight birdies, but could only manage one more – and also two bogeys – for the remainder of her round to card a 70. The third-ranked Na Yeon Choi could only make even par in her first round, while world number five Shanshan Feng of China was one under.
Author: Omnisport