Golf Links: Friday, July 7 news and updates

HARTFORD, WI - JUNE 13: Golf journalist Shane O'Donoghue; broadcaster Ken Brown and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland on the course during a practice round prior to the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills on June 13, 2017 in Hartford, Wisconsin. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
HARTFORD, WI - JUNE 13: Golf journalist Shane O'Donoghue; broadcaster Ken Brown and Darren Clarke of Northern Ireland on the course during a practice round prior to the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills on June 13, 2017 in Hartford, Wisconsin. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) /
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Ariya Jutanugarn of Thailand during the first round of the Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic at Thornberry Creek at Oneida, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic

Sei Young Kim and rookie Laura Gonzalez Escallon set the pace at the inaugural Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic with a pair of 7-under par 65s. Bronte Law, another emerging rookie star, and my personal pick for the win, Moriya Jutanugarn, are starting Friday two shots back and the leaderboard is looking top-heavy despite a lot of gasping from the players about the difficulty of the Thornberry Creek track. (Sister Ariya carded a 6-over par 78 and is starting the second round third from the bottom of the field. Whoops!)

With five consecutive birdies on the front nine Alena Sharp looked well on her way to a career-low round. She made the turn at 31, the picked up two more birdies on the 10th and 12th holes before bogeys on the 15th and 18th set her back a bit.

Pornanong Phatlum, also starting Friday at 5-under par, carded a bogey-free first round at Thornberry Creek. Nicely done, Ms. Phatlum!

Second round play begins at 7:30am local time. Follow this link for Friday’s pairings and tee times. Golf Channel begins broadcast coverage of the Thornberry Creek second round at 6am ET.