Ochoa leads as Wie pulls out

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  • November 20, 2009

Lorena Ochoa grabbed the first round lead at the LPGA Tour Championship in Texas where Michelle Wie withdrew with injury.

Early morning starter Lorena Ochoa took advantage of the best conditions of the day to claim a one-stroke lead in the first round of the season-closing LPGA Tour Championship in Texas.
The world number one, on course for her fourth consecutive player-of-the-year award, fired a first-round 66 to sit at six under par, one stroke clear of second-placed Reilley Rankin, before high winds made life difficult for the later starters.
“I think we were lucky maybe getting six, seven holes with not much wind in the morning,” Ochoa told the media afterwards.
“It’s playing tough. I think if you don’t hit a lot of greens it could be especially tough, because the grass is not easy around the greens.
“Tomorrow is a new start, and I’m gonna play like I’m a few shots behind and continue being aggressive to give myself chances to win on Sunday.”
Taylor Leon was third on four under ahead of a group of five players a further stroke behind.
Michelle Wie, who claimed her first professional tournament victory last week, withdrew from the tournament with an ankle injury after finishing the day level.
“I wanted to do everything I could do to fight through the injury,” Wie said in a statement.
“It bothered me last week in Mexico, but I was able to play through the pain, but
I realised today that I wouldn’t be able to continue to play through it.”
Play finished early as darkness closed in, but none of the players whose rounds were curtailed was in contention for the lead.

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