Miyazato off to good start
Ai Miyazato of Japan looked like the past Lotte Champion that she is for much of her first round, shooting a 2-under 70.
The bubbly Miyazato, 29, shook off a bogey on her final hole while playing with Michelle Wie and Suzann Pettersen, the only two other players to win this event since its start in 2012. Prior to the late lapse, the inaugural champ had three birdies in a five-hole span on the back nine.
"I had (rhythm)," Miyazato said, emphasizing the past tense. "Playing with Michelle and Suzann, I haven’t played with them since, I don’t know, a couple years ago I think. It’s been a while … so it was a great atmosphere. I could focus my game because of them. They’re in good shape and I kind of had a good feeling about them. It was a good day."
The 5-foot-1 Miyazato was about a head shorter than her two towering playing partners, but managed to occasionally outdrive them.
"I think it was really cool," she said with a laugh. "You know, it’s totally different players. Maybe Suzann and Michelle (are) kind of similar, but I’m not a long hitter. I’m not that tall … still, golf is such a cool sport like that. Even different (style) players, you can win and I can play with them."
Kim returns as a pro
Representing the tournament’s namesake, Hyo Joo Kim justified her place in the Lotte Championship field via a sponsors invitation with top 12 finishes each of the past three years, rising to fourth last year.
Now an LPGA Tour rookie and the fourth-ranked player in the world, she continued her run of under par rounds at Ko Olina Golf Club on Wednesday.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Kim said she feels "like I’m home" in playing in the tournament and remained comfortable and confident in her return.
Kim, 19, was among seven players who shot a 3-under par-69 Wednesday morning. She started on No. 10 and carded four birdies, including the par-3 16th hole.
Wednesday’s round was her 11th in red numbers out of 13 she’s played in the tournament.
She played Ko Olina at 10 under each of the past two years and picked up two wins — the Evian Championship last year and the JTBS Founders Cup in March — since her last visit to Hawaii.
Chip-in finish for Creamer
Paula Creamer joined a group at 3 under with a chip-in birdie on her closing hole. Her fifth birdie offset two bogeys and a 69 marked her best opening round in her fourth Lotte Championship.
"It was one of those chips you practice sometimes, but it was perfect," Creamer said of her finish on the ninth hole. "I played solid, kept kind of grinding out there, giving myself some opportunities."
Those opportunities hadn’t been all that plentiful in her previous appearances in the event. She opened with a 73 last year and her scores continued north over the next three rounds. She managed the winds on Wednesday to card her third round in the 60s at Ko Olina.
"Just to commit to every shot that we choose," Creamer said of her mind-set. "Sometimes you’re going to be wrong judging the wind and a lot of it depends on how you flight the ball. We did a good job of that but I think I need to do a little bit better job going into the next couple of days."
Of course, the players expect wind to be an issue as soon as they step off the plane.
"If it’s not windy I don’t know what we would do," she said.
Hurst withdraws due to injury
Vicky Hurst withdrew about midway through Wednesday’s first round with a nagging wrist injury.
She had played only one event this year, missing the cut at the KIA Classic. Wrist problems also allowed her to play in just 11 tournaments in 2014.
South Koreans own the leaderboard
A leaderboard dominated by South Korea included one of the few rookies who did well on Wednesday.
Sei Young Kim sits in a three-way tie for second place at 5-under 67 after making six birdies and only one bogey. She birdied four of her first seven holes and shot under par for the ninth time in her past 10 LPGA rounds.
"Generally my shot condition was really good," Kim said through a translator. "After my first one of the tournament I got a lot of confidence with that. That’s why I could do well."
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Kim would be one of only three rookies out of 23 to tee it up at the LPGA LOTTE Championship to break par.
Fellow countrywoman Hyo Joo Kim shot a 3-under 69 and UCLA alumnus Alison Lee shot a 1-under 71 among the rookies.
Four rookies shot even par and 16 were over par, including Cheyenne Woods, the niece of Tiger Woods, who posted a 3-over 75.
SCOREBOARD
| a-denotes amateur |
| I.K. Kim |
31-34–65 |
| Na Yeon Choi |
32-35–67 |
| Sei Young Kim |
33-34–67 |
| Inbee Park |
35-32–67 |
| Jenny Shin |
34-34–68 |
| Paula Creamer |
35-34–69 |
| Cristie Kerr |
35-34–69 |
| Hyo Joo Kim |
34-35–69 |
| Mirim Lee |
34-35–69 |
| Xi Yu Lin |
35-34–69 |
| Giulia Molinaro |
33-36–69 |
| Haru Nomura |
33-36–69 |
| Morgan Pressel |
36-33–69 |
| Beatriz Recari |
35-34–69 |
| Chella Choi |
34-36–70 |
| Shanshan Feng |
34-36–70 |
| Sandra Gal |
34-36–70 |
| Natalie Gulbis |
35-35–70 |
| Tiffany Joh |
36-34–70 |
| Ai Miyazato |
36-34–70 |
| So Yeon Ryu |
35-35–70 |
| Michelle Wie |
36-34–70 |
| Jing Yan |
35-35–70 |
| Danielle Kang |
35-36–71 |
| Sue Kim |
34-37–71 |
| Alison Lee |
37-34–71 |
| a-So Young Lee |
34-37–71 |
| Pernilla Lindberg |
37-34–71 |
| Mika Miyazato |
34-37–71 |
| Ryann O’Toole |
36-35–71 |
| Pornanong Phatlum |
35-36–71 |
| Q Baek |
36-36–72 |
| Laetitia Beck |
36-36–72 |
| Danah Bordner |
36-36–72 |
| Paz Echeverria |
38-34–72 |
| Nannette Hill |
34-38–72 |
| Ha Na Jang |
39-33–72 |
| Jennifer Johnson |
35-37–72 |
| Moriya Jutanugarn |
35-37–72 |
| Kim Kaufman |
37-35–72 |
| Ilhee Lee |
33-39–72 |
| Meena Lee |
36-36–72 |
| Minjee Lee |
37-35–72 |
| Amelia Lewis |
35-37–72 |
| Mo Martin |
37-35–72 |
| Lee-Anne Pace |
34-38–72 |
| Jane Park |
35-37–72 |
| Suzann Pettersen |
37-35–72 |
| Gerina Piller |
37-35–72 |
| Angela Stanford |
38-34–72 |
| Yueer Cindy Feng |
36-37–73 |
| Mi Jung Hur |
35-38–73 |
| Felicity Johnson |
34-39–73 |
| P.K. Kongkraphan |
36-37–73 |
| Ji Ram Kweon |
36-37–73 |
| Brittany Lang |
37-36–73 |
| Brittany Lincicome |
36-37–73 |
| Caroline Masson |
36-37–73 |
| Kristy McPherson |
34-39–73 |
| Sydnee Michaels |
38-35–73 |
| Belen Mozo |
35-38–73 |
| Sophia Popov |
37-36–73 |
| Alena Sharp |
36-37–73 |
| Kelly W Shon |
34-39–73 |
| Ashleigh Simon |
37-36–73 |
| Jennifer Song |
34-39–73 |
| Jenny Suh |
36-37–73 |
| Jaclyn Sweeney |
35-38–73 |
| Mina Harigae |
37-37–74 |
| Wei-Ling Hsu |
37-37–74 |
| Eun-Hee Ji |
35-39–74 |
| Haeji Kang |
35-39–74 |
| Sarah Kemp |
36-38–74 |
| SooBin Kim |
39-35–74 |
| Jennifer Kirby |
35-39–74 |
| Jessica Korda |
36-38–74 |
| Jee Young Lee |
37-37–74 |
| Brooke Pancake |
36-38–74 |
| Demi Runas |
38-36–74 |
| Thidapa Suwannapura |
36-38–74 |
| Yani Tseng |
37-37–74 |
| Ayako Uehara |
38-36–74 |
| Alison Walshe |
37-37–74 |
| Sakura Yokomine |
37-37–74 |
| Marina Alex |
37-38–75 |
| Mallory Blackwelder |
36-39–75 |
| Cydney Clanton |
38-37–75 |
| Victoria Elizabeth |
38-37–75 |
| Austin Ernst |
39-36–75 |
| Jodi Ewart Shadoff |
40-35–75 |
| Jaye Marie Green |
39-36–75 |
| Maria Hernandez |
38-37–75 |
| Ariya Jutanugarn |
36-39–75 |
| Therese Koelbaek |
39-36–75 |
| Min Lee |
36-39–75 |
| Alejandra Llaneza |
38-37–75 |
| Lisa McCloskey |
36-39–75 |
| Paula Reto |
36-39–75 |
| Kelly Tan |
36-39–75 |
| Mariajo Uribe |
38-37–75 |
| Cheyenne Woods |
37-38–75 |
| Dori Carter |
39-37–76 |
| Sandra Changkija |
40-36–76 |
| Jacqui Concolino |
39-37–76 |
| Perrine Delacour |
38-38–76 |
| Simin Feng |
36-40–76 |
| Jenny Gleason |
37-39–76 |
| Hyun Soo Kim |
37-39–76 |
| Katherine Kirk |
36-40–76 |
| Mi Hyang Lee |
37-39–76 |
| Rebecca Lee-Bentham |
39-37–76 |
| Ji Young Oh |
39-37–76 |
| Ju Young Park |
37-39–76 |
| Garrett Phillips |
38-38–76 |
| Jackie Stoelting |
33-43–76 |
| Amy Anderson |
38-39–77 |
| Catriona Matthew |
39-38–77 |
| Maria McBride |
37-40–77 |
| Paola Moreno |
38-39–77 |
| Becky Morgan |
36-41–77 |
| Hee Young Park |
41-36–77 |
| Jane Rah |
37-40–77 |
| Hee Kyung Seo |
35-42–77 |
| Sarah Jane Smith |
39-38–77 |
| Christel Boeljon |
39-39–78 |
| Katie Burnett |
37-41–78 |
| a-Hye Jin Choi |
40-38–78 |
| Kendall Dye |
40-38–78 |
| Joanna Klatten |
38-40–78 |
| Min Seo Kwak |
39-39–78 |
| Se Ri Pak |
37-41–78 |
| Jennifer Rosales |
37-41–78 |
| Karin Sjodin |
37-41–78 |
| Sun Young Yoo |
41-37–78 |
| Karlin Beck |
39-40–79 |
| Laura Diaz |
42-37–79 |
| Lisa Ferrero |
38-41–79 |
| Pat Hurst |
38-41–79 |
| Marissa L Steen |
37-42–79 |
| Kris Tamulis |
41-38–79 |
| Sadena A Parks |
41-39–80 |
| Julie Yang |
40-40–80 |
| Christine Song |
40-42–82 |
| Vicky Hurst |
WD |
TEE TIMES
(a) — amateur
First tee
7 a.m.
Vicky Hurst
Karin Sjodin
Kelly Tan
7:11 a.m.
Kim Kaufman
Belen Mozo
Hee Kyung Seo
7:22 a.m.
Sue Kim
Jee Young Lee
Jane Park
7:33 a.m.
Victoria Elizabeth
Rebecca Lee-Bentham
Haru Nomura
7:44 a.m.
Chella Choi
Caroline Masson
Se Ri Pak
7:55 a.m.
Mina Harigae
Pornanong Phatlum
Jenny Shin
8:06 a.m.
Pat Hurst
Minjee Lee
Mariajo Uribe
8:17 a.m.
Ha Na Jang
Alison Walshe
Sun Young Yoo
8:28 a.m.
Alejandra Llaneza
Lisa McCloskey
Thidapa Suwannapura
8:39 a.m.
Katie Burnett
a-So Young Lee
Maria McBride
8:50 a.m.
Haeji Kang
Therese Koelbaek
Jennifer Song
9:01 a.m.
Perrine Delacou
I.K. Kim
Demi Runas
11:55 a.m.
Mallory Blackwelde
Tiffany Joh
P.K. Kongkraphan
12:06 p.m.
SooBin Kim
Joanna Klatten
Alena Sharp
12:17 p.m.
Kendall Dye
Paz Echeverria
Jaclyn Sweeney
12:28 p.m.
Sydnee Michaels
Brooke Pancake
Cheyenne Woods
12:39 p.m.
Paula Creamer
Hyo Joo Kim
Morgan Pressel
12:50 p.m.
Na Yeon Choi
Cristie Kerr
Jessica Korda
1:01 p.m.
Shanshan Feng
Sandra Gal
So Yeon Ryu
1:12 p.m.
Ariya Jutanugarn
Alison Lee
Gerina Piller
1:23 p.m.
Eun-Hee Ji
Ji Young Oh
Kris Tamulis
1:34 p.m.
Marissa Steen
Jackie Stoelting
Jenny Suh
1:45 p.m.
Sandra Changkija
Ju Young Park
Ashleigh Simon
1:56 p.m.
Karlin Beck
Jacqui Concolino
Amelia Lewis
10th tee
7 a.m.
Sarah Kemp
Katherine Kirk
Jane Rah
7:11 a.m.
Jodi Ewart Shadoff
Jennifer Johnson
Christine Song
7:22 a.m.
Simin Feng
Min Seo Kwak
Ji Ram Kweon
7:33 a.m.
Maria Hernandez
Hee Young Park
Sarah Jane Smith
7:44 a.m.
Ai Miyazato
Suzann Pettersen
Michelle Wie
7:55 a.m.
Sei Young Kim
Brittany Lincicome
Inbee Park
8:06 a.m.
Mo Martin
Angela Stanford
Yani Tseng
8:17 a.m.
Austin Ernst
Pernilla Lindberg
Catriona Matthew
8:28 a.m.
Cydney Clanton
Sophia Popov
Paula Reto
8:39 a.m.
Amy Anderson
Xi Yu Lin
Sadena Parks
8:50 a.m.
Natalie Gulbis
Meena Lee
Garrett Phillips
9:01 a.m.
Danah Bordner
Laura Diaz
Jaye Marie Green
11:55 a.m.
Christel Boeljon
Jennifer Kirby
Jing Yan
12:06 p.m.
Laetitia Beck
Lisa Ferrero Nannette Hill
12:17 p.m.
a-Hye Jin Choi
Jenny Gleason
Julie Yang
12:28 p.m.
Kristy McPherson
Paola Moreno
Ayako Uehara
12:39 p.m.
Mi Jung Hur
Ilhee Lee
Beatriz Recari
12:50 p.m.
Moriya Jutanugarn
Brittany Lang
Mirim Lee
1:01 p.m.
Danielle Kang
Mi Hyang Lee
Sakura Yokomine
1:12 p.m.
Q Baek
Mika Miyazato
Lee-Anne Pace
1:23 p.m.
Hyun Soo Kim
Giulia Molinaro
Jennifer Rosales
1:34 p.m.
Marina Alex
Felicity Johnson
Kelly Shon
1:45 p.m.
Wei-Ling Hsu
Becky Morgan Ryann O’Toole
1:56 p.m.
Dori Carte
Yueer Cindy Feng
Min Lee
