AMERICANS AT THE TOP
Nine American players are within two shots of the lead at T11 or better after Round 1.
United States 2017 Solheim Cup Captain Juli Inkster (-7) is fresh off of her fourth Legends Tour win after repeating at the Walgreens Charity Championship two weeks ago at Grandview Golf Course in Sun City West, AZ.
The sister duo of Jessica (-5) and Nelly Korda (-6) are in the hunt in their second event playing alongside each other this year.
MICHELLE WIE’S RESURGENCE
For a second consecutive event, Michelle Wie has positioned herself near the top of the leaderboard as she sits just one shot off of the first-round lead in Phoenix. Wie held a two-shot lead going into the final round at the HSBC Women’s Champions in Singapore but ultimately would finish tied for fourth.
“I was really disappointed on Sunday,” said Wie. “I was sad. It definitely stung. You always want to win. At the same time, I played great on Sunday. Just couple putts didn’t go in, and I forgot you hit it further when you get adrenaline going. Every experience you get you learn from it, and I learned a lot from it. Hopefully I use the experience here in the upcoming events.”
INSPIRATIONAL KAYLIN YOST IN THE HUNT
Maryland native Kaylin Yost scored a -6 (66) in the Monday qualifier to earn a spot in the Bank of Hope Founders Cup where she posted an impressive -5 (67) during Wednesday’s first round. Yost is playing in her first LPGA event and she’s resolved to not get ahead of herself, “Game plan? Get some food -- just kidding. I think just taking one shot at the time. Staying in the moment. I don’t want to get too ahead of myself. Today does put me in a good position to get into the weekend.”
Yost has had to overcome difficulties in her life - after being born with dislocated hips doctors said she’d never be able to walk, and after two major hip operations she had a full body cast for 16 months. If that wasn’t enough, at two years old her parents found out Kaylin was hearing impaired in both ears and she’s been wearing hearing aids ever since. For the first time in her career, Yost will be representing USA for the Deaf Olympics in Turkey this Summer.
QUICK HITS
2013 Founders Cup champion Stacy Lewis holds a share of the first-round lead for the 17th time in her career, one of which she held on to win (2012 ShopRite Classic).
Stacy Lewis, an 11-time LPGA winner, is looking for her first win since the 2014 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship - she has 11 runner-up finishes since her last victory.
In 2016, Ariya Jutanugarn became the first player in Tour history to have the first three wins of her career come in consecutive tournaments (Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic, Kingsmill Championship, Volvik Championship). She is also the first player since Inbee Park in 2013 to win three LPGA tournaments in a row.
Reigning Rolex Player of the Year Ariya Jutanugarn has posted three consecutive top-8 finishes, and her round of -8 (64) is her lowest in relation to par since the 2016 Reignwood LPGA Classic in September.
Two-time major champion World No. 4 In Gee Chun is in unfamiliar territory - making just her second Founders Cup start, she shares the lead at 8-under marking the first time she has at least a share of the lead after the first round.
In Gee Chun set a new major championship record - male or female - for 72-hole score in relation to par with her four-day total of 21-under par at the 2016 Evian Championship. Chun also broke the LPGA major championship 72 hole scoring record previously set by Betsy King (267, 1992 LPGA Championship) with her four-day total of 263.
In 2016 at 22 years old, In Gee Chun became the first rookie to win the Vare Trophy since Nancy Lopez in 1978.
Sandra Changkija (-8) matched her career-low round in relation to par, which was at the par-71 2012 Manulife LPGA Classic where she shot an 8-under 63 to collect one of just two career top-10 finishes.
Sandra Changkija enjoyed a successful collegiate career at Nova Southeastern University where she where she recorded 16 wins, was a four-time NGCAA Division II Player of the Year (2008-2011), four-time Division II All-American First-Team selection (2008-2011), and was the 2010-11 Sunshine State Conference Female Athlete of the Year. Changkija helped her team to the 2010 National Championship and won the 2010 individual National Title at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa, AZ.
American Katie Burnett birdied 18 to join the leaders at -8 (64), tying her career-low round which she used to finish T16 at the 2017 Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic
QUOTABLE
“No, I don’t think I need it.”
- Ariya Jutanugarn when asked if she had a driver in the bag on Thursday - she averaged 289 yards off the tee on Thursday, which ranks 11th in the field
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