World No 1 Lydia Ko slumps to first-round 76 at the Blue Bay LPGA
Friday 30 October 2015 11:45, UK
New world No 1 Lydia Ko needed a birdie at the last to avoid her worst round of the season in the opening round of the Blue Bay LPGA in China.
The teenager, who replaced Inbee Park at the top of the world rankings last week with a nine-shot win in Taiwan, struggled to a five-over 76 to lie ten shots adrift of early pacesetter Xi Yu Lin at Hainan Island.
Having already run up a double-bogey six at the par-four second, Ko slipped further down the leaderboard with a run of three consecutive dropped shots to reach the in turn in 41.
Further blemishes at the tenth and 11th left Ko on course to post a season-high round, before the 18-year-old finished strongly by following a birdie at the 13th with another gain at the par-five last.
World No 2 Park also struggled on a day where only ten players broke par, bogeying three of her opening four holes on the back nine on her way to a three-over 75.
At the top of the leaderboard, Lin continued her recent run of form by posting a bogey-free 67 to hold a one-shot advantage over Austin Ernst.
"Today is a pretty good round for me," Lin said. "When I played in the practice round, I thought this place is pretty tough, so I'm really satisfied with my game and my game today."
Ernst recovered from a first-hole blemish to hold on to outright second, while Jane Park picked up three strokes over her final four holes to join Sei Young Kim in a four-way tie for third on two under.
Solheim Cup stars Stacy Lewis and Brittany Lang lie a further shot off the pace, while Suzann Pettersen is one of 11 players in a tie for 22nd following a two-over 74.
