Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — Top-ranked Lydia Ko shot a 3-under 69 on Friday and was three shots off the lead and in a tie for fifth place after the first round of the New Zealand Women's Open.
The 18-year-old South Korean-born New Zealander, defending her national title, sank a 20-foot put on the 18th hole for the fifth birdie of an opening round which also included two bogeys and left her within reach of the lead held by Norway's Nicole Broch Larsen at Clearwater Golf Club.
Larsen was a stroke ahead of Justine Dreher of France in the 54-hole tournament co-sanctioned by the Ladies European Tour. Gwladys Nocera of France and Scotland's Pamela Pretswell were tied for third, two behind Larsen, after 68s.
Ko, who started her round with a birdie at the 10th, said she didn't fully exploit warm and calm conditions during her morning round, particularly on the greens.
"If I have a good read then I need to put a good stroke on it," she said. "There were question marks in my head when I went to hit the putt. You need to be right there to put a good stroke on it. I doubted myself a little bit and got angry in some sense."
Larsen expected Ko to be a factor over the final two rounds.
"When she's not on the leaderboard, you wait for her to come there," Larsen said. "I'm sure she'll be up there at the weekend."
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
