South Korea’s An Na-rin fired a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 to grab a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s opening spherical of the LPGA’s season-ending Tour Championship.
An reeled off three birdies in a row beginning on the eleventh gap and sank eight birdies total to complete one forward of Angel Yin, who made an extended eagle putt from the perimeter on the par-5 seventeenth to grab second.
“I performed effectively. My placing actually good. The velocity was good and the form was good. I used to be simply attempting to make to focus just a little bit extra,” An stated.
Individuals Marina Alex and Allisen Corpuz shared third on 66.
The highest 60 gamers within the season factors chase certified for the $11 million showdown with a $4 million high prize at Tiburon Golf Membership in Naples, Florida.
An felt no further strain with the file payout for the season ender.
“It’s about the identical with the completely different tournaments. Simply match is match for me. I simply do my finest,” she stated.
An, 28, managed her finest LPGA end earlier this season at Portland, the place she made a hole-in-one in a runner-up effort.
World quantity 76 An birdied the second, fourth and par-5 sixth then closed the entrance 9 with one other birdie earlier than her back-nine birdie streak and a birdie at 17.
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Yin, ranked thirty fourth, made bogeys on the second and fourth however then made three birdies in 4 holes, the par-3 fifth and eighth and par-5 sixth.
The 26-year-old American started the again 9 with 4 birdies in 5 holes then added her eagle at 17.
“Began out just a little bit rocky simply because I used to be attempting to regulate to the golf course — enjoying fairly troublesome with the early winds. It’s head begin for the massive ol’ prize we get on the finish of the week. Hopefully I proceed it and see the way it goes on Sunday,” Yin stated.
A fifth-place pack on 67 included Sweden’s Linn Grant, France’s Celine Boutier, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Swiss Albane Valenzuela, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, a two-time winner of the occasion.
“I capitalized on some good birdie alternatives. It was actually regular,” Ko stated. “
High-ranked Nelly Korda, searching for her eighth title of the yr, opened with a level-par 72 to face eight off the lead in a share of forty fourth.
Korda, who has already clinched the LPGA Participant of the 12 months award, opened with a birdie however stumbled with back-to-back birdies at three and 4.
The 26-year-old American birdied the par-3 eighth earlier than taking a bogey at 10 and a birdie at 17.