Blue Bay LPGA Round 1 update

The first round of the Blue Bay LPGA tournament in China is well and truly under way. History is there for the making at the inaugural event playing out of the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Club on Hainan Island.

On a hot and humid day there were some stunning shots, struck masterfully by so many of the players. There were birdies galore with some putts, painfully, left out there and the shot of all shots, an “Ace”, by Danielle Kang (USA) at the par 3,17th.

Sitting in the club-house as leader is Jessica Korda (USA) who finds herself at -6. Korda who played flawless golf took the lead at the14th hole. She sits one shot ahead of a group of familiar faces at -5 but couldn’t capitalise on some of the undulating greens. I wonder what she has in store for the rest of the event.

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With a loaded leaderboard, Shanshan Feng (Chi), Michelle Wie (USA), Lee-Anne Pace (RSA), Caroline Masson (Ger), Brittany Lang (USA) and Jodi Ewart-Shadoff (Eng) all handled the breeze expertly as it got up in the afternoon. This group of players looked the strongest today even though giving some shots back to the field, they all sit one stroke back at -5 and look to be bursting with confidence going into the next round.

World number 3, Lydia Ko (NZL), didn’t get anything going on the front nine but was able to sneak in a couple of birdies on the back, coming in with a round of 69. It sees her sitting in a tie for 14th place. Ko looked her cool, calm and collected self as she strode the fairways and perhaps feels indifferent with her round. She left some out there and I’m convinced we will see a more attacking style the next couple of rounds.

Sarah-Jane Smith, one of the 2 Australians in the field this week, shot a credible -3, making use of the par 5’s, taking birdies from three out of four of them. Her compatriot, Katherine Kirk, took a stinging triple bogey on the 9th, managed to fight back with 4 birdies over the next 6 holes, only to stumble again at 16 and 17 to come home at par for the day.

Aug 17, 2014; Pittsford, NY, USA; Brittany Lincicome hits a chip shot on the 9th hole during the final round of the Wegman

The game of golf is fierce at times and takes no pity on anyone. Brittany Lincicome (USA) started the day with the tools that got her into the ‘play off’ at last week’s HanaBank Championship. She was -5 at the turn before walking into a wall of double bogey’s on 11 and 12. Not defeated, Lincicome put a good stroke on her last putt of the day to roll it in for birdie. The couple of shots that got away, and what might have been won’t be sitting on Lincicome’s mind as it is mine. I felt for her and still shake my head at the ‘what if’s.

Tomorrow is another day and the golf out there is amazing. Tune in to see Lee-Anne Pace carry on her form from last week’s win at the South African Women’s Open or watch Gerina Piller (USA), the long hitter, who had a sharp round going today, will she continue and make that break through? Let us know….

My colleagues and I at ProGolfNow will provide ongoing commentary and updates.

Follow me on Twitter @TinkWalker and Beth Bethel @bethbethel and we’ll notify you directly when we publish commentary and updates.

Media Coverage

Hainan Island is 12 hours ahead of the US east coast

Golf Channel will provide live coverage of all four rounds at the Blue Bay LPGA,

Wednesday, October 22 – Saturday, October 25, 11:30 PM-3:30 AM

In Australia coverage on Fox Sports

Thursday, October 23, 2014 – Fox Sports 3 (503) 1.30pm – 3.30pm

Friday, October 24, 2014 – Fox Sports Plus (505) Check listings

Saturday, October 25, 2014 – Fox Sports Plus (505) Check listings

Sunday, October 26, 2014 – Fox Sports 3 (503) 12.00pm – 3.30pm

Check your local listings for mid-day replays.

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