{"id":18004,"date":"2014-11-13T18:11:53","date_gmt":"2014-11-13T18:11:53","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2014-11-17T01:11:49","modified_gmt":"2014-11-17T01:11:49","slug":"Kim-grabs-early-lead-at-LPGA-Ochoa-Invitational","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asiancemagazine.com\/?p=18004","title":{"rendered":"Kim grabs early lead at LPGA Ochoa Invitational"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum and Americans Lizette Salas and Gerina Piller shared fourth on 69.<\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

SOURCE: <\/strong>
\nhttp:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/news\/kim-grabs-early-lead-lpga-ochoa-invitational-041812137–golf.html;_ylt=A0LEV1VqeWZUWk8AYZxXNyoA<\/p>\n

Having a ball!<\/strong>
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