Katherine Kirk takes the early lead, going out in 33 and bringing it home with a 32.
The Australian native carded a bogey-free 8-under par, 65 on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead at the ISPS Handa Women’s Australian Open, taking advantage of ideal conditions in the morning at Royal Adelaide.
Kirk, a 14-year veteran, has been winless on the LPGA Tour since 2010, finishing 110th on the money list in 2016.
Armed with a hot putter, she made birdies on four of the first five holes finishing with eight on the day, hitting 12 of 15 fairways.
“I had a lot of birdie chances. I think I hit maybe 16 greens, 15 greens, so that helps. But I had a couple of tap-ins too for birdie,” explained Kirk. “There are low numbers to be had out there. There are a lot of birdie opportunities. I was just fortunate I got off to a good start and just kept the momentum going.”
Kirk will sleep on a two-shot lead over Min Lee, Chella Choi, Marissa Steen and Jane Park, all at 6-six under-par.
Lee cruised to a 6-under par today in the afternoon wave.
“I played really good today, especially I play with a Taiwanese amateur and then it’s been a long time that I haven’t played with Taiwanese amateur, especially she’s younger than me and maybe first time or second time playing on the LPGA Tournament, so it’s a lot of fun chatting with her and then especially talking about stuff as amateur, how she’s going and how’s all the tournament, how’s training,” said Lee. “That helped me a lot because everything’s very relaxing.”
Choi on her day, “Very good, very good today. Before Tournament I guess it been very difficult golf course here but play very calm this morning, so very good conditions this morning, so I have confidence I can do it.”
Steen attributes several factors to her success today; weather, putting and ball striking.
“It was really good; the wind was low. First group out, the greens were rolling really pure. I was joking, I didn’t see a blade of grass out of place out there the whole day,” said Steen. “I think it was all of the above. I didn’t trip once. I either hit every green or was right on the fringe where I was still able to putt, so I gave myself a lot of chances and took advantage when I had wedges in my hands.”
I was very patient. I felt very calm the whole day, and that’s really kind of my thing this year, is I really just want to take it as it comes, and a lot of times I tend to get ahead of myself and thinking of the outcome before it actually happens, so this year I’ve been working hard on that in the offseason to kind of just really stay in the present,” said Steen. “I think I did that very well today. So, tomorrow’s a new challenge with that, right, so, just keep it going and take it one day at a time.”
Park carded a bogey-free 6-under, 67, which included four birdies and an eagle on the par 4 No. 3.
"That hole is obviously super-short but very difficult, and you need to position yourself pretty well off the tee,” on her eagle. “I was able to do that today, and I had a perfect 60-yard shot into the hole to a tucked back pin. I couldn't get too aggressive with it, but I hit the absolutely perfect shot, my playing partners said right when I hit it, 'it's in the hole.' It flopped right in after I think two bounces.''
Defending champion Haru Nomura struggled on day one and sits T-99 at 2-over par carding three birdies and five bogeys on the day.
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