The opening round of the Kingsmill Championship presented by JTBC ended with Joanna Klatten sitting atop the leaderboard, one stroke ahead of Morgan Pressel, Alison Lee and Pat Hurst. A stretch of five birdies in six holes propelled Klatten to a career-low round-tying 65 for the day. It’s the first time in her LPGA career that she has led or co-led after the first round of a tournament.
“I definitely had luck on my side today,” Klatten said. “I had good breaks and it feels really good. Lately, it felt the other way around, but I knew that it always evens out. Today, it definitely did.”
Klatten’s luck included three bombs between 30-50 feet. Her longest putt came at the par-3, fifth hole where she was on the front of the green and holed it for her third consecutive birdie.
“Well, it’s nice because I haven’t had a very good stretch lately,” Klatten admitted. “I mean, this is one of my favorite courses all year. I feel very comfortable here. It suits my eye really well.”
Paula Creamer had a chance to tie Klatten for the lead on 18, but bogeyed the final hole to finish with a 4-under 67, her low round of the year. Creamer started the round hot, with birdies on five of her first seven holes but shot 44 over the final 11 holes.
Morgan Pressel continued her hot play of late and almost had an ace on 17. Changes to her swing, something she’s still working on, has led to more opportunities.
“I just played solid,” Pressel said. “I didn’t really make a whole ton of mistakes today, and the ones I did I recovered from nicely with good up and downs, a couple good ten footers for par, and was able to convert the birdie opportunities that I did have.”
Hurst is playing in just her fourth event of the season this week in Williamsburg, her best finish coming in a T-46 at the ANA Inspiration. The six-time winner on the LPGA Tour carded her lowest round of the year with a 5-under par 66 Thursday. The veteran rounds out the top-10 in driving distance on Tour and is taking advantage of a course that sets up well for big hitters.
“It's all about the angles out here and being on the right side of the fairway and the way you come into the greens and stuff,” Hurst said Thursday. “If you're hitting the ball good, it's easier to put them in that spot.”
Current world number one Lydia Ko shot an even par 71 on day one. Michelle Wie withdrew after carding an opening round 78, citing a hip injury.
Catch the second round action Friday from 9:00pm to 11:00pm on Golf Channel.
Other News and Interviews from the Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC:
Interview with First Round Leader Joanna Klatten (Video)
News and Notes: Round One Kingsmill Championship
Michelle Wie Withdraws After Round One of Kingsmill Championship Presented by JTBC
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