Three-way split in Hong Kong
CHINA’S Zhong Xiaolong, Teresa Lu of Taiwan and American Libby Smith all carded level-par 72s to share the lead after round one of the Hong Kong Ladies Masters today (AEDT).
The three were just one shot ahead on a congested leaderboard, with Zhang Na, Tseng Hsiu Feng, Lee Eun-kyoung and Yoshie Yoshida all on 73 in the $US80,000 ($104,000) tournament at Discovery Bay Golf Club.
The teenage defending champion, Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand, was within striking distance after a 74, sharing eighth spot with India’s Irina Brar, Japan’s Kaori Yamada and Fame More of England.
“I’ll add a little more aggression to my game tomorrow to strike back,” said Pornanong, who dropped two strokes near the end of her round.
Joint leader Zhong finished second here last year and said she was just coming into form again.
“My form has been on a low for quite a while. I shifted my preparations into high gear early this year to be back in the groove. I was happy with my play,” she said.
Smith, 27, from Vermont, finished with a birdie at the 18th on the par-72 course.
“It was fine out there. The course is in good condition, greens good and fantastic weather too. I was also hitting well and I’m happy to be the joint leader,” she said.
Filipina Heidi Chua aced the 133-yard second, but missed out on the hole-in-one prize of 300,000 air miles because it was not the designated hole.
“I wish it had happened on the 17th hole so that I could just go out to the clubhouse and start celebrating with beers,” she said.
The Hong Kong Ladies Masters is the second of five events on this year’s Ladies Asian Golf Tour, which held its inaugural season last year.
Agence France-Presse