Suzann Pettersen is in a three-way share of the lead after the opening round of the Kraft Nabisco Championship on Thursday. The Norwegian, a one-time major winner, was joined by South Korean Choi Na-Yeon and Englishwoman Jodi Ewart Shadoff in carding a four-under 68. Pettersen and Choi both went through bogey free at the Mission Hills Country Club in California at the first major of the year. Shadoff held the lead before a bogey at the par-four 16th, but she remains well-placed despite the late blemish. Swede Anna Nordqvist and South Korean Amy Yang are a shot back on three under, while a group of 11 are tied for sixth a further shot back. Sarah Jane Smith and Karrie Webb (both even par) are the best-placed Australians, with Lindsey Wright (two over) further back. Katherine Hull-Kirk endured a horror round, shooting seven bogeys, two double bogeys and a birdie in a 10-over 82. Pettersen, the 2007 LPGA Championship winner and three-time runner-up at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, birdied the 7th hole before holing three straight birdies to finish her round. Americans Jane Park, Jacqui Concolino, Lizette Salas, Angela Stanford and Jessica Korda are among those who sit on two under. Alongside them are Thailand&aposs Moriya Jutanugarn, South Koreans Shin Ji-Yai, Park Hee-Young and Park In-Bee, Italian Giulia Sergas and German Caroline Masson. World number two Yani Tseng managed an even-par 72 to be in a tie for 23rd with the likes of Webb and New Zealander Lydia Ko. American world number one Stacy Lewis triple-bogeyed the par-three 14th and it proved costly in her round as she finished on one over. South Korean Yoo Sun-Young&aposs chances of defending her title took a huge blow after she combined seven bogeys with two birdies in her five-over 77.
Author: Omnisport