Australian LPGA rookie Cassie Porter leads after the primary spherical of the LPGA Dow Championship pairs occasion in Michigan, enjoying alongside Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.
The duo mixed for 5 birdies in a four-under-par 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after they teed off on 10 at Midland Nation Membership and grabbed 4 birdies of their first 9 holes.
They answered their lone bogey of the day on the second with a birdie on the par-five third to complete the day one stroke clear atop a crowded leaderboard on which six duos shared second place on three-under 67.
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The pair had picked up their first birdie of the day on the twelfth, and their three birdies in a row at 14, 15 and 16 included a chip-in for Porter.
“We simply rolled rather well collectively,” Porter stated, Dryburgh including that their video games complemented one another properly within the alternate-shot format used for the primary and third rounds, with best-ball rounds to come back on Friday and Sunday.
“Tomorrow is about birdies and as we speak was form of extra regular,” Dryburgh stated. “Clearly we made a number of birdies as we speak, however we are able to make much more tomorrow.”
The duo have dubbed themselves ‘The Kilted Koalas’, a reputation Porter derived from ChatGPT.
The Australian missed the lower eventually week’s Ladies’s PGA Championship, gained by countrywoman Minjee Lee, and is relishing the extra laid again really feel of the pairs occasion, the week after a serious.
“We now have loads of group occasions as juniors in Australia, however I haven’t performed one in ages,” Porter stated.
“It’s good to come back out and have a good time on the market. We had been fairly relaxed on the first tee as we speak.”
Dryburgh added: “She was taking selfies on the first tee”.
“Yeah, nevertheless it was nice. We had a terrific day, and I’m excited for extra,” Porter responded.
Among the many groups on 67, the Japanese duo of Saki Baba and Yuri Yoshida had reached five-under with 5 birdies of their first 14 holes however dropped again with two late bogeys.
They had been tied with China’s Liu Yan and Zhang Yahui, England’s Jodi Ewart Shadff and Taiwan’s Heather Lin, South Koreans Im Jin-hee and Lee So-mi, Individuals Megan Khang and Lexi Thompson, and American Jennifer Kupcho and Eire’s Leona Maguire.
Defending champions Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand and Yin Ruoning of China shook off an early bogey and nabbed three birdies in a two-under 68 that left them in a seven-way tie for eighth.
“We didn’t get up but, it’s too early,” Jeeno stated.
Australia’s Karis Davidson shot a two-under par 68 enjoying with Daniela Darquea of Ecuador, whereas fellow Australian Robyn Choi and her associate Jenny Bae of the USA shot an excellent par 70.
Australia’s Hira Naveed and Paraguay’s Sofia Garcia shot 72 and Australian veteran Sarah Kemp and Alena Sharp shot 73.