Lang up by two at LPGA Classic

Brittany Lang carded a seven-under-par 65 to take a two-shot lead at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama.
Sitting two shots behind Lang are Tiffany Joh, Sydnee Michaels and Ryann O'Toole, who fired five-under-par 67s. South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim, Ariya Jutanugarn, Therese Koelbaek, Julieta Granada and Simin Feng are in a tie for fifth and three strokes off the lead after hitting four-under-par 68s.
World number three Stacy Lewis is in a tie for 18th after recording a two-under-par 70, while defending champion Mi Jung Hur had a day to forget as she registered a two-over-par 74.
Lang, who was this week named as one of Juli Inkster's captain's picks for the U.S. Solheim Cup team, started her campaign in brilliant fashion as she made five birdies, including three in a row from the third to the fifth hole, on the front nine.
However, the back nine was a bit more up and down for the 30-year-old as she made four birdies and two bogeys, but despite this, her 65 still tied her best round of the year.
Joh, Michaels and O'Toole all went bogey-free in their respective rounds as the trio made five birdies apiece on Thursday. There is plenty and The Evian Championship as they need to be inside the top 72 on the money list to qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship.
Joh, Michaels and O'Toole, all of whom need a strong showing if they are to sneak into the top 72 on the money list and qualify for the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, notched up five birdies apiece in bogey-free rounds.
Kim, Jutanugarn and Feng each made five birdies and a bogey during their rounds, while Koelbaek and Granada made an impressive seven birdies, but let themselves down with three bogeys.
Lewis, who is five strokes adrift of the lead, did not get off to the best of starts as she made a bogey at the third. However, she made up for it with consecutive birdies at the eighth and ninth. The 2012 champion had a much quieter back nine, with just one birdie at the 11th.
Hur, who won the tournament by a comfortable margin of four strokes last year, was far from her best on Thursday as she recorded four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey at the par-four third during her round of 74.
Latest
-
News
European Tour preparing for business as planned in the Middle East
Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship is due to start next week.
-
News
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera arrested in Brazil
The former US Open and Masters winner was on the run from the law.
-
News
On this Day in 2013: Paul McGinley given Ryder Cup captaincy
McGinley would go on to be involved in a sixth Ryder Cup victory.
-
News
Collin Morikawa keen to draw inspiration from family ties to Hawaii at Sony Open
Venezuela’s Jhonattan Vegas has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for coronavirus.
-
News
R&A: ‘No plans’ for Open to head to Donald Trump-owned Turnberry in near future
Trump National in Bedminster was on Sunday stripped of next year’s US PGA Championship.
-
News
US PGA Championship moved from Donald Trump-owned course in New Jersey
Trump National in Bedminster had been set to host the event.
-
News
Justin Thomas : ‘I made a terrible, terrible judgement call’
Thomas admitted he was distracted by what happened on Saturday during his final round.
-
News
PGA Championship to be moved away from Donald Trump-owned course
It is the second time in six years the PGA has moved an event away from a course owned by Donald Trump.
-
News
‘It’s inexcusable’ – Justin Thomas apologises for homophobic slur in Hawaii
The world number three was heard using the derogatory word towards himself after missing a par putt.
-
News
Westwood, McDowell back petition to allow English golf courses to open
The duo have added their names to a petition that has passed 100 000 signatures.