GALLOWAY, New Jersey: Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum shot a blistering 8-under par 63 to share the first-round lead with Jeongeun Lee6 in the ShopRite LPGA Classic on Friday.
Pornanong, 29, had seven birdies and an eagle against just one bogey while playing in the morning on smoother greens. Her 12-foot eagle putt came on the final hole.
“I feel like I got more confident after last week,” said the Chaiyaphum native, who tied for 16th at the US Women’s Open — won by Lee6 — a week earlier. “I tried to play my game and not put pressure on myself, so it makes me more relaxed on the course (with) more good results.”
Lexi Thompson, the top American in the world rankings who tied for second in last week's Open, shot a 64. She was part of a three-way tie for third with rookies Kristen Gillman and Muni He.
Lee6, a 23-year-old LPGA Tour rookie from South Korea, said she felt “pretty relaxed” in Friday’s first round of the 54-hole tournament. “I didn’t feel nervous. I think I did pretty good. I played it just like how I played it last week.”
Lee6 posted an eagle and nine birdies to go along with three bogeys. Her two-putt birdie at her last hole, the par-5 ninth, moved her into a tie with Pornanong.
Eight players were at 5 under, including Angel Yin and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras of Thailand, while rookie Pajaree Anannarukarn is just one shot back. But Ariya Jutanugarn, who has slipped from top spot to sixth in the world rankings this season, is at 1 over par and could miss the second-round cut, currently projected at 1-under.
The tournament offers $1.75 million in prize money, with $262,500 going to the winner.