Nasa Hataoka leads the Tournament of Champions after the first round
ORLANDO, Fla. – Japanese golfer Nasa Hataoka signed a six-under-par card (66 strokes) to lead by one stroke at the Tournament of Champions, in the first round of the tournament that kicks off the season.
Hataoka leads Jeeno Thitikul, Chanettee Wannasaen, Lottie Woad, and Linn Grant, who are in second position.
Hataoka had an outstanding performance in the second nine holes of the Lake Nona Golf & Country course, where she achieved 4 under par, demonstrating the same form with which she finished the previous season. Let’s remember that she won the Japan Classic in a playoff against Yuna Araki in November, which meant her first LPGA victory in almost three years.
Thitikul, for her part, comes from an exceptional season, considered one of the best in LPGA history. She won the Tour Championship in November, adding her third victory of the year, and obtained second place in the Evian Championship and fourth in the Women’s PGA Championship. The Thai star finished with the lowest scoring average in the 75-year history of the circuit.
Thitikul had six birdies and a bogey on Thursday, climbing the leaderboard of a tournament reserved for LPGA winners from the last two seasons. Wannasaen had seven birdies in her round of 67 strokes, while Grant birdied her last two holes to match the 5-under-par mark. Woad reached 6-under-par before a bogey on the final hole that set her back.
Nelly Korda, Amy Yang, and Linn Grant are one stroke away.
The highlight for Korda, who finished second in the Tournament of Champions last year, was on the 7th hole, a 406-yard par 4. Her approach from the middle of the fairway bounced on the green, rolled towards the hole and hit the flagstick, leaving her an easy birdie. Korda got to 6 under par before some bogeys left her with a round of 68.
Defending champion, A Lim Kim, is in a group with 3 under par, alongside Lydia Ko and Ingrid Lindblad.
