Kim grabs early lead at LPGA Ochoa Invitational

American Christina Kim, seeking her first LPGA title since 2005, fired a seven-under-par 65 to grab a one-stroke lead after the first round of the Lorena Ocho Invitational.

The 30-year-old US standout took a one-stroke lead over Spain’s Azahara Munoz with New Zealand teen Lydia Ko, this season’s LPGA Rookie of the Year, alone in third on 68.

Kim’s bogey-free round included eagles at the par-five second and 17th holes in Mexico City, where she led after the first round for the first time since 2008. Kim has only two top-10 finishes this year but one was a runner-up effort at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

“It seems like every Sunday I have been playing well, just shoot myself in the foot the first couple rounds,” Kim said.

“So before we started, T.J. (Jones, her caddie) said, ‘Let’s pretend it’s Sunday and go from there.’ It has been a lot of fun.” Kim’s only two LPGA titles came at the 2004 Longs Drugs Challenge and 2005 Tournament of Champions. A closing bogey cost Munoz a share of the lead. The Spaniard opened with birdies at the first and third holes, took a bogey at the fourth but closed the front nine with a birdie. She ran off three birdies in five holes starting at the par-4 12th and eagled the 17th.

“I played so well,” Munoz said. “I made a lot of good putts and I actually should have made a lot more so that was nice.”

Ko, a 17-year-old South Korean-born Kiwi, has already clinched top newcomer honors with two events remaining this season.

She has won twice this year after two Canadian Women’s Open wins as an amateur pushed the LPGA to allow her onto the tour a year ahead of the usual minimum age of 18.

Ko opened with a bogey but answered with back-to-back birdies on the next two holes and again at the sixth and seventh. She took another bogey at the par-5 11th and closed with back-to-back birdies to stand alone in third.

Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum and Americans Lizette Salas and Gerina Piller shared fourth on 69.

World number two Park In-Bee of South Korea, trying to overtake US rival Stacy Lewis for the top spot in the rankings, was in a pack of seven on 70 that included defending champion Lexi Thompson. Lewis was on 76 and without a birdie in her opening round.

SOURCE:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/kim-grabs-early-lead-lpga-ochoa-invitational-041812137–golf.html;_ylt=A0LEV1VqeWZUWk8AYZxXNyoA

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