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CARLSBAD, Calif. — Jin Younger Ko picked up the place she left off three weeks in the past in Singapore on Thursday within the first spherical of the JTBC Basic.
The highest-ranked Ko shot a bogey-free 7-under 65 at Aviara Golf Membership to take a one-stroke chief over Nanna Koerstz Madsen within the remaining occasion earlier than the primary main of the season subsequent week at Mission Hills.
“I like to play golf proper now,” Ko stated. “I am actually having fun with proper now on the course, enjoying with whoever. I can focus myself. Shot by shot I can. Really feel confidence 100% and I can focus 100% for my ball. I like to play golf proper now.”
The victory in Singapore within the HSBC Ladies’s World Championship in her solely different LPGA Tour begin of the 12 months was her sixth in her final 10 tournaments and thirteenth total. On Thursday, the South Korean star prolonged her tour document for consecutive rounds within the 60s to 16 and sub-par rounds to 31.
“I am simply attempting to hit 60s at the moment,” Ko stated. “These greens are actually tough, so I did not count on for good putt or make a variety of putts on this inexperienced. However I made a variety of birdie at the moment and bogey-free spherical. It is fairly thus far, so on the lookout for subsequent three days.”
She’s getting ready for The Chevron Championship, the key event she received in 2019 that’s being performed at Mission Hills for the ultimate time.
“I like to play in West Coast, and particularly earlier than the key,” Ko stated. “I have to heat up earlier than the primary main of the 12 months.”
Koerstz Madsen received the Honda LPGA Thailand two weeks in the past to change into the primary Danish winner in LPGA Tour historical past. She had a late eagle on the par-5 eighth in her afternoon spherical.
“I am very happy with the rating,” Koerstz Madsen. “I believe I solely hit perhaps 4 fairways, so I used to be struggling. … However I made some good putts on the market, which I perhaps wasn’t anticipating.”
Cheyenne Knight was at 67 with Gemma Dryburgh and Hye-Jin Choi.
Lydia Ko, the 2016 winner, was one other stroke again with Mo Martin, Maude-Aimee Leblanc, Ryann O’Toole, Pajaree Anannarukarn. Lydia Ko received the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio in January.
“Usually, I really feel like I performed stable and fairly constantly,” Lydia Ko stated. “Hopefully, I will be capable of carry that to the subsequent few days.”
Race to CME Globe chief Danielle Kang shot a 69. She received the season-opening Match of Champions in January
Defending champion Inbee Park opened with a 71. Lexi Thompson shot 73.
Nelly Korda, the No. 2 participant on this planet, is sidelined as she recovers after being recognized with a blood clot in her arm.
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