Trio up by one at Shoprite LPGA Classic
Anna Nordqvist, Ai Miyazato and Paula Reto fired seven-under-par 64s to claim a one-shot lead at the Shoprite LPGA Classic.
The trio are closely followed by Casey Grice, Haru Nomura and Catriona Matthew, who are in a tie for fourth after carding six-under-par 65s.
A plethora of golfers are in a tie for seventh on five-under, including world number six Stacy Lewis.
Meanwhile, world number four Brooke Henderson is five strokes adrift of the lead in a tie for 38th.
Nordqvist, who is the defending champion, looked sluggish right off the bat as she made consecutive bogeys at the 11th and 12th before turning her fortunes around with a hat-trick of birdies from the 16th to 18th. The Swede shifted her game to the next level on her back nine as she made two birdies on her first three holes before going on to make four in a row from the sixth to ninth.
Miyazato, who missed the cut at the LPGA Volvik Championship last week, enjoyed a successful front nine as it consisted of three birdies and a bogey, but she performed even better on her back nine as she made three more birdies and an eagle at the par-five third.
Reto began her round with a trio of birdies on her front nine and maintained her momentum heading into her back nine as she proceeded to make five more birdies and a bogey.
Grice made seven birdies and a bogey during her round, while Nomura’s round consisted of six birdies. Matthew meanwhile made four birdies and an eagle at the third.
Lewis, who hit a five-under-par 66, enjoyed a bogey-free round as she made five birdies.
Meanwhile, Henderson, who registered a 69, endured a turbulent front nine as she made two birdies, a bogey and a double bogey at the par-four 14th. The Canadian turned her fortunes around on her back nine though as she made three birdies.
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