What a difference a year makes for Taiwan’s Hsu Wei-Ling, who fired a 65 on Thursday to grab a share of the lead with Stacy Lewis after the opening round of the Volvik Championship.
Hsu’s seven-under score equaled the second-best round of her LPGA Tour career and was an incredible 13-stroke improvement over her opening round last year at the Travis Pointe Country Club course in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
“It was really great start. I mean from the very first hole, said Hsu, who shot a 78 in the first round last year and missed the cut.
“I had my seven-iron and I just hit it right at the pin. I didn’t see it very well. I just heard my mom and the gallery on the side, and they were all just cheering.”
Hsu wasted no time giving family and friends something to roar about as she started her round with two eagles and two birdies en route to seizing at least a share of the lead for the first time in her Tour career.
She has twice shot 65 and posted a career-low 64 in the final round of the 2015 Yokohama Tire Classic.
Hsu and American Lewis were one shot ahead of Nelly Korda (66) with a group of five players at five-under par 67
Hsu is seeking her first victory as her best career finish was an eighth place at the Yokohama.
Through 11 events in the 2017 season, non-American players have taken home eight titles.
Lewis, who teed off in the morning session, is hoping to counter that trend. With a birdie at the 18th hole, she capped off a her round to take what was at the time the outright lead.
The two-time major winner is seeking the 12th victory of her career and her first since 2014.
“It’s a ball striker’s golf course and if you can hit the greens, they’re pretty small to begin with, you can make some putts,” Lewis said. “That’s what I did a lot of today was hit a lot of good shots and then made some good putts as well.”
Norway’s Suzann Pettersen and Australia’s Sarah Jane Smith highlighted the group on 67.
Australia’s Minjee Lee shot a four-under 68 and was tied for ninth with 11 others, three shots back of the leaders.
Lee is trying to rebound this week after being disqualified on Sunday from the Kingsmill Championship after failing to sign her scorecard. The error cost her a top-10 finish at an event she won two seasons ago.
“I think I just had a brain fart,” Lee said. “I mean I don´t know how I missed it, but obviously I did and I got DQ’d. But it´s OK, I can laugh about it now.”
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