GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — Norway’s Suzann Pettersen birdied the final two holes Friday for a 3-under 69 and a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Hana Bank KOLON Championship.
Seeking her fourth LPGA Tour victory and fifth overall title of the year, Pettersen had five birdies in a bogey-free back nine after making the turn at two over on a soggy Mauna Ocean course. South Korea’s Meena Lee also shot a 69 on the overcast day with cool temperatures and a shifting wind.
“It was very difficult with the wind gusting around, hard to get the right club without the wind changing on you,” Pettersen said. “It’s a great golf course. You have to be on the right parts of the green. Some of the par 5s are reachable, so you try to take advantage. I’m very happy with 3 under.”
Sidelined for eight months in 2005 by a career-threatening ruptured disk in her back, Pettersen has had a breakthrough season, highlighted by her first major title in the McDonald’s LPGA Championship in June.
The long-hitter also won the Michelob Ultra Open in May for her first LPGA Tour victory, took the European tour’s SAS Masters in August in Norway, and beat top-ranked Lorena Ochoa two weeks ago in a playoff in the Longs Drugs Challenge.
“I just enjoy playing here,” Pettersen said. “We have so many Koreans on our tour and it’s nice to get to know their culture. It’s very good for women’s golf to showcase itself everywhere and give the crowds and the fans some good golf to watch.”
Lee had four birdies and one bogey in the tricky wind conditions.
“It wasn’t in one direction,” the two-time tour winner said. “There were some errors in my communication with my caddie because the wind blew in all directions.”
The pace of play was slow in the difficult conditions, with the players taking nearly six hours to complete their rounds.
“You have to just try to commit to whatever you choose to do and take it from there,” Pettersen said.
Scotland’s Catriona Matthew was two strokes back at 71 along with South Koreans Jeong Jang, Hyun-Hee Moon and Joo Mi Kim. Ochoa topped a group at 72 that included South Korean stars Se Ri Pak and Seon Hwa Lee and Australia’s Rachel Hetherington.
Ochoa, the Mexican star who wrapped up her second straight player of the year award last week with a victory in the Samsung World Championship, leads the tour with seven victories and has earned a record $3,318,421 (2,320,736) this year.
Creamer tied for the lead in Japan
MIKI, Japan (AP) — American Paula Creamer shot a 4-under 68 on Friday for a share of the first-round lead in the Masters GC Ladies.
The 21-year-old Creamer, the 2005 champion, was tied with Japan’s Momoka Ueda.
Japan’s Miki Saiki opened with a 69.
