Adelaide: Australia's Katherine Kirk posted an eight-under 65 to lead a large foreign contingent in the LPGA/ALPG co-sanctioned Australian Open at Royal Adelaide yesterday.
Kirk carded eight birdies in a morning round and watched the afternoon players struggle in windy conditions to hold a two-stroke lead after the opening 18 holes.
Kirk, a 14-year professional who has made her living in the United States on the LPGA Tour, was outside the top 100 on the money list last year and has not won a big tournament since 2010.
But she rammed home three consecutive birdies and carried the momentum through to the finish in benign conditions to miss only four greens with a total of 24 putts.
"I think it would be my best win ever really," Kirk said. "As a kid, you dream about winning your own national championship.
"I've won a Canadian Open, that felt pretty good but being Aussie, being at home, in front of my family, I'd probably be bawling my eyes out."
Kirk leads the way, ahead of Americans Jane Park and Marissa Steen and Taiwan's Min Lee and South Korea's Chella Choi at six under.
Scotland's Michele Thomson is a further shot back with Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum and American Lizette Salas.
Pornanong had an eagle, at the par-five 17th hole, four birdies and a bogey yesterday.
World No.1 Lydia Ko began rustily with a two-under 71, and complaining later that "the putts just would not drop".
Among those joining the Kiwi at joint 25th were Thai duo Moriya Jutanugarn and Sherman Santiwiwatthanaphong.
Other marquee names were near the top of the leaderboard, including top-10 stars Canada's Brooke Henderson on four under, and South Korean Jang Ha-Na on three under.
World No.2 Ariya, Moriya's sister, played in the tougher afternoon conditions and began with a one-under 72 to remain in contention.
Ariya was the most successful player on the LPGA Tour last year winning five titles including the Women's British Open.
The 21-year-old also claimed three season honours -- the player of the year award, money title and Race to CME Globe.
Ko triumphed at four tournaments in 2016 including the ANA Inspiration and finished second at the Rio Olympics.
Ko has been working with new swing coach Gary Gilchrist for about a month since parting ways with David Leadbetter last year.
Gilchrist is already working with Ariya and Chinese world No.4 Feng Shanshan. afp/bangkok post