Chella Choi sits at 7-under through 14 holes to hold the overnight lead at the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Play was suspended due to darkness at 8:23 p.m. with 54 golfers still on the course needing to complete their first rounds.

Stephanie Meadow birdied her final two holes to post an opening round 66 to take the clubhouse lead.

“It’s awesome,” Meadow said of her round today. “You know, something that I’ve been focusing on all year is to start off a little better in all my tournaments, so to come out today and shoot low has been spectacular.”

Due to inclement weather and the threat of lightning in the area, play was delayed for two hours and 56 minutes from 11:44 a.m. to 2:40 p.m.

“Yeah, a little bit, especially when you’re on a little bit of a roll,” Meadow said about whether the delay had affected her. “You kind of start thinking and whatever. But I just texted my mom and my coach, and my coach just said stay in your own little bubble and keep doing what you’re doing, and it worked.”

First round play will resume at 7:15 a.m. on Friday. The second round morning wave will begin at 8:00 a.m., adding 50 minutes to the original starting times. The round two afternoon wave will begin at 1:05 p.m., adding 40 minutes to the original starting times.

COMFORTABLE KO

Lydia Ko is off to another hot start in her pursuit of a fourth Canadian Open title after an opening round 67 (-5). A win at Priddis Greens this week would also mean that Ko would gather a victory at a fourth different Canadian tournament location in just five starts in this event.

The World No. 1 is also seeking to add a fifth win to her 2016 season, which would tie the career-high mark for wins in a season that she set last year.

Ko mentioned being very comfortable in Canada and that to her it feels like a home away from home:

“I’ve felt such a warm welcome whenever I come to Canada, and obviously because I think I’ve played well here, that I think that grows a little bit more. But the fans have been great. I said Canada reminds me a lot like home in New Zealand, and when you can relate back to places where you can relax and you love being there, I think that’s just another great part of that tournament.”

Ko’s previous finishes at the CP Women’s Open:

2015 - Win
2014 - T55
2013 - Win
2012 - Win

ALENA SHARP IS LOW CANADIAN AFTER DAY ONE

Alena Sharp shot an opening round 68 (-4) to sit three shots back of the lead after the opening day of the CP Women’s Open. On the course, amateur Jaclyn Lee is also at 4-under through 13 holes.

The last Canadian to win the CP Women’s Open was Jocelyne Bourassa in 1973.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

66 - 66 ties the low round of Stephanie Meadow’s career, Meadow also shot 66 in the opening round of the 2016 ShopRite LPGA Classic
2:56 - Play was delayed for two hours and 56 minutes due to weather
1 - Jacqui Concolino recorded a hole-in-one on the par-3 11th hole from 182 yards with a 5-iron

QUOTES OF THE DAY

“My caddie always jokes that when it’s windy I always play great, so I guess that’s kind of my deal. Being from Ireland, that’s just part of it.” -Stephanie Meadow on her play today in tough conditions

“Well, the thing is I FaceTimed her (Inbee Park) just after she got the gold medal, then we talked, and she said, So Yeon, are you sick? I said, Yeah, I’m sick; I didn’t really practice, I’m coming here to play horribly, I cannot really practice, so I’m kind of anxious. Then she said, I had like a two-month break, then I got a gold medal. Two weeks off is nothing; you can do it.” -So Yeon Ryu on her talk with Inbee Park after Park won the gold medal in Rio

Opening Round News and Notes - CP Women's Open

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