Ashley Buhay of South Africa on Thursday gave a card of a bogie-free, 9-under-Para 63, and she shares the lead after the first round of the JM Eagle LA Championship at Los Angeles.
China’s vehicle Liu is also at 63 after being opened with a bogey, but later gave an Eagle card at the El Cabellro Country Club.
Sweden’s Frida Kinhlt birds the last three holes to claim third at 64.
Sweden’s Madleen Sagstrom, China’s Miranda Wang and South Korea’s Jionagun Lee 6, G Chun and Jenny Shin are fourth in 65 in 65, ninth in 66 with one and six players.
World No. 1 Neli Corda is ranked 15th in 67, and is at Thailand’s World No. 2 Jeno Thatikul 68, 24th.
Buhai, began at nine, opened with a shirt and Nose 15, 16 and 17 had the best stretch with three consecutive cords. There were five birdies behind him, then four more on the front nine.
“Obviously on any day you have a bogie-free phase, it’s a good day,” Buhai said. “Yes, it was very patient, kills a lot of good shots. I mean, you have to pierce a lot of good puts too. But I felt that the pin was in the places that we could reach till date until you use the slope correctly.
“I think how this course is. If you hit it in the right bowl, you will get good results, otherwise you can reduce yourself very easily and it can’t be fun.”
35 -year -old Buhai is looking for its third LPGA win, which has captured the 2022 AIG Women Open (one major) and Shoprite LPGA classic. This year, she has ended in the top 11 in three of her last four.
27 -year -old Liu is demanding a victory for his first tour, and this season his best result was a tie for 44th in Blue Bay LPGA.
He bogged the par-4 10th hole to start his round, but Par-5 bounted a small eagle put back on the 16th hole with three shovedies before hole. He added five more Burdies on the rest of the way.
“I think everything (is) is right today, but I don’t have a driver,” Liu said. “But just small things. Right now my driver is one (giving) too much faded, but I will find out tomorrow.”
Australia’s two -time defending champion Hannah Green has been ranked 44th at 69.
-Bield level media
