PHOENIX – American Angela Stanford fired a six-under par 66 on Friday, answering a double bogey with an eagle on the next hole to seize a one-shot lead after the opening round of the LPGA Founders Cup. Paula Creamer with 69 is yet to make the yet. Stanford birdied three of the first five holes before taking a double bogey at the par-4 eighth hole, Stanford blasted an 8-iron from a fairway bunker into the cup on two bounces and off the flagstick for an eagle.
“After the double, I thought, ‘OK, I have a choice here. I can either stay down or go to the next hole and try to make it better,'” Stanford said. “Usually, you don’t get results that quick in golf.” She followed with a birdie at the 10th and added birdies on the par-4 13th and par-5 15th to finish atop the leaderboard, one stroke ahead of South Korean Aree Song and American Brittany Lincicome at the 54-hole event. “I just really enjoyed playing the game today,” Stanford said.
Stanford, who has not won in more than two years, would not receive any prize money for capturing the first US event of the women’s tour season. The inaugural Founders Cup will donate its entire $1 million purse to charity, with half going to LPGA youth programs and the rest divided among charities of the 10 top finishers.
US veteran Juli Inkster, hoping to become the oldest winner in LPGA history at age 50, shared fourth on 68 along with compatriots Mina Harigae, Nannette Hill and Amelia Lewis plus Swede Sophie Gustafson and Spaniard Beatriz Recari.
