Amanda Blumenherst
Amanda Blumenherst of the USA carded a seven under par round of 66 to lead by one shot in the first round of the Kia Classic, which was suspended for darkness at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, with one player still on the course.
Blumenherst birdied the final four holes of her round on Thursday at the Industry Hills Golf Club and shot a 30 on the back nine. She bogeyed two holes and birdied nine, en route to taking the first round lead. Blumenherst’s best finish in an LPGA tournament is a tie for fifth in the 2009 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Sandra Gal is sitting one stroke behind Blumenherst after shooting a 6-under 67. Michelle Wie birdied the 18th hole, one of seven birdies for her on the day, to shoot a 4-under 69 and she currently sits in third place alone. There is a group of seven players who are four shots back of the leader which includes I.K. Kim, Mika Miyazato, and Jiyai Shin.
Dori Carter was the lone player not to finish Thursday’s round. She will putt out on her 18th hole (No. 9) at 7:15 a.m. on Friday.
Yani Tseng, No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings, shot an opening round 2-under 71 and currently sits in a seven-way tie for 10th
Cristina Kim eagled the par-four No. 6 hole by draining her second shot from 112 yards with a pitching wedge
Defending champion Hee Kyung Seo shot a four-over-par 77 and is in a tie for 98th place
The in form Karrie Webb is 1-under par and sits in a tie for 18th place with 12 other players.
