Korea’s Amy Yang carded an eight-under 63 on the first day of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia to take a two-shot lead over American Marina Alex.
Korea’s Amy Yang carded an eight-under 63 on the first day of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia to take a two-shot lead over American Marina Alex.
Yang, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour, played blistering golf in soaring heat at TPC Kuala Lumpur to take the lead early on in her round and continued to make easy work of the course with consecutive birdies from holes 15 to 18.
“I don't know why, but I do enjoy Southeast Asia. I'd rather play in this weather than cold weather,” said Yang. “A lot of golf to play the next three days, so just going to keep being simple.”
World no.118 Marina Alex played almost flawless golf with seven birdies and one bogey in the opening round to sits two shots further back. The fourth-year member has two top-10 finishes this season, a tie for eighth place (Manulife LPGA Classic) and a tie for sixth place (LPGA Volvik Championship) and is looking to pick up her first win.
“I putted great,” said Alex. “Obviously anyone who shoots a low number is going to say they putted well. I just worked a little bit on it yesterday and I just for whatever reason, the stuff that I was working on really felt good on the course and I holed a bunch of putts. Some are 20 to 30-footers, so it was really nice to see some long putts go in the hole.”
Michelle Wie appears to have undergone a resurgence in form as of late after following up her top-10 finish in China last week with a five-under-par first round.
Meanwhile World no. 1 Lydia Ko fired a level-par round of 71, in an up-and-down round which included a double bogey on the second. The nineteen-year-old was using a local bagman after axing her long-term caddie Jason Hamilton last week. Meanwhile Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, whom the New Zealander currently trails in the Race to the CME Globe, carded a three-under-par 68.
England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff was the leading Brit after a round which included five birdies left her at two-under-par. Compatriot Charley Hull sits two shots further back.
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