Nasa Hataoka of Japan racked up seven birdies to open the LPGA season in style, setting the first-round lead at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournamentof Champions on Thursday in Orlando, Florida.
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Hataoka rolled in consecutive birdies at the 10th and 11th, and 15th, 16th at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club to head to the clubhouse with a six-under-par 66. A star-studded quartet is one stroke back at five-under: world No 1 JeenoThitikul of Thailand, her compatriot Chanettee Wannasaen, Englishwoman Lottie Woad and Sweden’s Linn Grant.
World No 2 Nelly Korda and South Korea’s Amy Yang are another shot back at four-under.
Thirty-nine players were invited to the season opener, a 72-hole event without a cut. They are playing alongside 44 amateurs playing in a separate competition with a Modified Stableford scoring format. Retired tennis pro Mardy Fish, a four-time winner of the celebrity division, has the early four-point lead there after scoring a 39.
Hataoka birdied two par-three holes on the front nine before taking her only bogeyof the round at the par-four seventh hole. Of her four birdies coming in, the par-five 11th saw her hole a lengthy putt from the fringe.
Defending champion A Lim Kim of South Korea opened with a three-under 69, as did New Zealand star Lydia Ko.
