Jasmine Suwannapura made five of her eight birdies on the back nine to take a one-shot lead Friday in the first round of the US LPGA NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Arkansas.
The 31-year-old Thai birdie at the par-five 18th at Pinnacle Country Club capped an eight-under-par 63 to see her advantage ahead of a group of four players sharing second place at seven under.
Three other players were tied at six-under 65 and a dozen were three shots back of Jasmine’s lead after a day in which gusty winds made things difficult, particularly for late starters.
“I think it started last week, everything is better with my irons, I have more confidence,” Jasmine said, adding that she is motivated as the season draws to a close to secure a spot in the 60-player CME Tour championship and to ensure she is qualified to play in Thailand at the start of next season so her parents can watch her play in person.
She came into the week ranked 75th in the Race to the CME Globe rankings, but she doesn’t feel much pressure.
“I think at this point you can only do the best you can at the moment,” she said, emphasizing that with no cuts to this 54-hole event, “you go there- low, you just pull the pin and you try to climb the CME (tour championship standings).”
It doesn’t hurt that the week in Arkansas offers her plenty of support, from the local family she lives with to the chance to have a few drinks with her pro-am playing partners.
“It’s been a pretty fun week so far,” said Jasmine, who kicked off her round with a birdie at the first and had two more shots at the fifth and seventh.
Coming in, she birdied the 10th before back-to-back birdies at 13 and 14 and another double at 17 and 18.
Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai and Mexico’s Maria Fassi were already in the clubhouse at seven under when Jasmine finished and 18-year-old Chinese rookie Zeng Liqi joined them in the post -noon.
Fassi, who played collegiate golf at the University of Arkansas, made two early bogeys and made nine birdies. Ciganda made seven bogey-free birdies and Buhai birdied his final four holes to grab his share of second place.
Zeng tees off on the 10th and his seven birdies, including five in a row from 14 to 18. His two birdies, including one at the par-four ninth, match his lowest round on the tour.
“I feel really lucky after today,” she said. “I had a lot of chances on the front nine. I also made a few minor mistakes, but I was able to save them.
“A bogey-free round is always a reason to be happy.”
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