04/26/24 09:15:00
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04/26 21:13 CDT Australia's Grace Kim opens 4-stroke lead in LPGA Tour's JM
Eagle LA Championship
Australia's Grace Kim opens 4-stroke lead in LPGA Tour's JM Eagle LA
Championship
LOS ANGLES (AP) --- Grace Kim opened a four-stroke lead Friday in the LPGA
Tour's JM Eagle LA Championship, shooting a 5-under 66 in tricky afternoon
conditions at Wilshire Country Club.
A stroke ahead after an opening 64, Kim had an eagle, four birdies and a bogey
to get to 12-under 130. The 23-year-old Australian patiently worked her way
around the tree-lined layup, trying not to get frustrated with the bumpy greens.
"I think the less thoughts, the better," Kim said. "Obviously, during the
afternoon round today, we've got poa annua greens so just have to stay patient
with them. You can kind of see how it can get bumpy, so working with the course
and not getting too wrapped up around putts not going in."
Maja Stark was second after a 69, also in the afternoon.
"I feel like maybe not taking everything so personal because they are a little
bit wobbly." Stark said. "Especially late. Like the whole day pretty much the
ball has been wobbling because there has been so many people walking on it."
The Swede finished second last week in Texas in The Chevron Championship, two
strokes behind top-ranked Nelly Korda in the first major of the year. Korda
withdrew Monday, a day after her fifth straight victory.
Defending champion Hannah Green of Australia shot a 69 to join Germany's Esther
Henseleit (68) at 6 under. Denmark's Kristine Pedersen (67) and American Auston
Kim (71) were 5 under, and Rose Zhang (69) topped the group at 4 under.
Grace Kim won the LOTTE Championship last year in a playoff in Hawaii for her
first LPGA Tour title. She missed the cut in The Chevron , shooting 76-72.
She started play Friday on the back nine, rebounding from a bogey on the par-3
12th with the eagle on the par-5 13th and a birdie on the par-4 14th. On 13,
she hit a 5-wood to 10 feet. She added birdies on Nos. 3, 6 and 7 on the second
nine.
"I think I've got to breathe a little bit," she said. "I did get a little bit
nervous on my back nine, so making sure I don't rush too much and just staying
in the present.
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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
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