Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and JTBC
Club de Golf Mexico
Mexico City, Mexico
Round 1 News & Notes

If there was a rust from Inbee Park taking eight days away from golf, it didn’t show Thursday when Park fired a 4-under-par 68 to take a one-shot lead at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and JTBC. Park had to withdraw for only the second time in her career at her last start with a cyst in her middle finger, which she had drained, but she got started early Thursday with five birdies in her first eight holes.

“Yeah, I was a little bit worried about not practicing for a few days, but I had a good day today especially the front nine,” Park said. “It was a good putting day. Obviously on the back nine I could’ve shot a little bit better but I have three more days to go and I just got to work on my ball striking, I had a couple of bad shots at the back nine that I’d really like to fix.”

Park needs at least an eighth place finish this week to keep the Rolex Player of the Year race alive and a big week to close the gap on Lydia Ko in the Race to the CME Globe, Vare Trophy and money list standings. She certainly got that Thursday with a smouldering putter that she only needed to use 25 times, and she’ll need that to get her first win at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational, despite three straight top-four finishes in this event.

“I play really well in this tournament, I just haven’t won,” Park said. “I definitely feel like I’m ready to win. I had three good years in this tournament, I just didn’t win. I felt really good about the putter today. I putted really good today so that was a good sign. I just need three more consistent days.”

Park leads Angela Stanford (69), Suzann Pettersen (69) and Minjee Lee (69) by just one shot entering the second round. Despite being just one back of the lead, Pettersen didn’t feel like it was a particularly solid round.

“Feel like I’m spanking it around a little bit,” Pettersen said. “If you get fairways, you get a fair amount of good looks, but still even with good looks, greens are tricky. Some greens are receptive and other greens are less receptive so it’s like you don’t really know what to ask for when the ball is in the air or whatever, but it was decent. It got better throughout the round.”

Stanford and Lee were on the opposite spectrum of the travel schedule entering this event. Stanford arrived on a place from Japan Monday after losing in a playoff at the TOTO Japan Classic last week, while Lee played the four-week Asian stretch but took last week off.

“I think I really needed that week off from when I was in Asia,” Lee said. “So, yeah, I was well rested and I came in yesterday and did my practice and I was ready to go.”

Seven players - Pernilla Lindberg, Mariajo Uribe, Jaye Marie Green, Sydnee Michaels, Azahara Munoz, Gaby Lopez (a), and So Yeon Ryu - all are tied for fifth at 1-under-par 71.

STANFORD LOOKING FOR BOUNCE BACK

Angela Stanford lost in a three-way playoff Sunday at the TOTO Japan Classic but headed to the airport right afterwards to head here to Mexico to get right back at it. She put herself again in contention with a 3-under-par 69.

“I think a lot of times when maybe you are not having the year you want if you can get into a playoff, um, obviously everybody wants to win, but I took a lot from that,” Stanford said. “So, it kind of helped me boost my confidence a little bit. Then it was nice to play well here again.”

Stanford, the 2008 Lorena Ochoa Invitational winner, is a seasoned veteran of the world travel at this point and admitted that Tuesday she felt like she had “been hit by a train” with jet lag. But she said the second day is always the worst and she doesn’t think it’ll be an issue the rest of the week.

“It’s getting better each day,” Stanford said.

Although she’s been jet lagged, it’s hard to stop a hot putter and Stanford said hers has been sizzling recently. “I was putting really well again today,” she said. “Had 24 putts again today and um, did that two times last week in Japan. So I think the things I have been working on, my putting, are starting to kick in and I’ve been kinda working on my swing.”

Stanford, who is nearing $10 million in earnings, is 34th on the money list this year, her lowest standing since 2005. “I’ve been kinda telling myself in the back of my mind that you know if I can, it has been tough, but if I can finish strong, that might make me feel better about it. So, yeah, I think once I get to the offseason and look back it will feel better finishing strong.”

LOPEZ HOLE-IN-ONE ON DAY ONE

Gaby Lopez, the Arkansas senior, is from Mexico City and has played her golf here at Club de Golf Mexico since she was a child. Lorena Ochoa was her childhood hero, and she wants to be on the LPGA next year alongside the other 35 girls she’s playing this week.

“I mean, it amazing, I mean playing with, with the top 30 in the world in my home course with my family and the people around me, you know,” Lopez said. “Its such a blessing that I think every golfer would like to have.”

Needless to say, when your first round in that scenario is complete with an ace on the par-3 5th hole, and finishes under-par for the day, it’s been a dream start.

“I hit a 170 yard shot perfect and it just landed like three paces on and jumped and it just landed just right, right into the cup,” Lopez said. “It was just an amazing moment because, you know, I’ve been hitting the ball really well and it just seems everything that I’m doing is paying off.”

Lopez also made a hole-in-one at stage II of LPGA Qualifying School two weeks ago and will head to the final stage in Daytona Beach in three weeks. Her 174-yard 7-iron Thursday was her sixth career hole-in-one.

“I think I’m making great shots at the right moment,” Lopez said with a laugh.

PETTERSEN STILL BELIEVES SHE CAN BE NO. 1

Butch Harmon famously said earlier this year that Suzann Pettersen, his pupil, should be the No. 1 player in the world with all the talent and game she has. She was asked afterwards Thursday if she believed that as well.

“I do otherwise I wouldn’t tee it up this week,” Pettersen said.

NUMBERS TO KNOW

1 - Regardless of whether or not Inbee Park wins this week, Lydia Ko will enter the CME Group Tour Championship with the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 spot still in her grasp. Ko also will lead the money list, Race to the CME Globe, Vare Trophy and Rolex Player of the Year standings heading into the final event of the season.

5 - Inbee Park is looking for her fifth win of 2015, which would tie Lydia Ko for most wins on Tour in 2015.

6 - Despite 16 career LPGA wins, this is only the sixth time that Inbee Park has held at least a share of the lead after the first round.

33 - Inbee Park trails Lydia Ko by 33 points in the Rolex Player of the Year standings and needs at least an eighth this week to keep Ko from locking up the award.

174 - Gaby Lopez’s hole-in-one at the fifth hole was her sixth in her lifetime and came from 174 yards with a 7-iron. She previously made one two weeks ago at LPGA Qualifying School.

2008 - Angela Stanford won the Lorena Ochoa Invitational in 2008.

Park Leads, Stanford Looking for a Bounce Back

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