SINGAPORE — Former world No. 1s Park Inbee and Tseng Ya-ni outshone top-ranked Lydia Ko, 17, as they seized the joint lead on day one of the HSBC Women's Champions Thursday. Teenage sensation Ko blamed jetlag and fatigue as she carded four-under-par 68 to lie two shots off Park and Tseng's 66 at a sun-baked Sentosa Golf Course.
New Zealand's Ko deposed Park to become the youngest male or female world No. 1 last month, but the South Korean boosted her bid to wrest back the ranking with a blemish-free round. The 26-year-old, who bagged five birdies, said: “Today was a really good day. This golf course is a very challenging golf course and I was able to manage myself with a bogey-free round.”
She ended the day tied at the top of the leaderboard with Taiwan's Tseng, who reigned as world No. 1 for almost two years between 2011 and 2013 but is now ranked 67th. Ko started strongly but she looked to be struggling in temperatures which reached 35 degrees C (95 F), and also blamed jetlag after flying in from New Zealand.
Expectations are sky-high for South Korean-born Ko, who cemented her No. 1 status with back-to-back wins in the Australian Open and then the New Zealand Open last weekend.
The HSBC Women's Champions has produced seven different winners in as many years and reigning champion Paula Creamer has work to do if she is to defend her title.
Creamer finished the opening day in 51st position with a disappointing two-over-par 74, one stroke behind her compatriot and world No. 6 Michelle Wie. American Angela Stanford ended the day on five-under par 67 putting her in third place.
Ford, Phelan share lead
Englishman Matt Ford and Irishman Kevin Phelan shared the Africa Open first-round lead on 67 Thursday after taming blustery East London Golf Club conditions.
Phelan, joint second in the Joburg Open last weekend, collected six birdies over the 6,108-m (6,679-yard) layout with his sole blemish a bogey five on 11. Ford put unspectacular Joburg Open form — a share of 43rd spot — behind him to garner five birdies and did not drop a shot in the Indian Ocean town.
Phelan, ranked 368 in the world, and Ford, 397 places further back, are both chasing a first European Tour triumph in this co-sanctioned event with the Sunshine Tour.
Among five golfers one stroke off the pace on 68 are Englishmen Richard Bland, David Howell and John Parry. Spaniard Eduardo de la Riva and South African Neil Schietekat were also four under after the opening round of a tournament whose seven previous winners were all South Africans. Only two of the former title-holders, Shaun Norris (70) and Darren Fichardt (75), are in East London this week.
Englishmen Matthew Fitzpatrick and Tom Lewis were two strokes behind the leaders on 69 with South Africans Oliver Bekker, Tyrone Ferreira and Trevor Fisher junior and Frenchman Gregory Havret.
Andy Sullivan, winner of the South African Open in January and the Joburg Open last Sunday, had to settle for a par 72 after a seesaw round. Darren Clarke also returned a 72 and his card included two birdies and two bogeys. — Agencies
