SHANGHAI — Maja Stark and Wichanee Meechai every shot 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a 2-stroke first-round lead on the LPGA Shanghai occasion within the tour’s return to China because the COVID-19 pandemic.
Stark, certainly one of three rookies on the European staff that tied the Individuals to retain the Solheim Cup final month in Spain, birdied 4 of her first six holes on the Qizhong Backyard Golf Membership course. Meechai overcame a first-hole bogey and completed strongly with a pair of birdies.
“Enjoying the Solheim Cup gave me a lot confidence,” stated Stark, who hit 11 of 14 fairways and 16 of 18 greens and made 28 putts. “An entire continent is on the lookout for you to play effectively.”
Meechai made her debut within the occasion however is acquainted with the Qizhong course, having performed on the Chinese language tour and when it hosted a Women European Tour occasion.
“I really feel like Chinese language now as a result of I performed on the China Tour for 3 years and it’s a must to converse Chinese language … and it looks like dwelling,” stated Meechai, who’s from Thailand.
Individuals Danielle Kang, Lauren Coughlin and Alison Lee and Chinese language gamers Cai Danlin and Li Shuying had been in a bunch at 68 and in a 10-way tie for third.
Kang goes for her third straight victory in Shanghai after profitable in 2018 and 2019. She had three birdies in her first eight holes.
“You simply need to have ball placing actually in play with wedges as a result of there may be quite a lot of tough grass across the greens,” stated Kang. “My caddie … actually helped me keep within the second. He is like, ‘It is solely Thursday. Cease wanting on the leaderboard. We will find yourself the place it is advisable to find yourself.'”
The sector, representing 21 international locations, options the highest two gamers within the girls’s world rankings, Lilia Vu (72) and Ladies’s PGA champion Ruoning Yin (71).
South Korean-born New Zealander Lydia Ko shot a 74.
The 81-player, no-cut area options 62 gamers from the LPGA Tour, 15 from the China Women PGA and 4 sponsor exemptions. The occasion is the beginning of a four-tournament Asia swing, with later stops in South Korea, Malaysia and Japan.
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