Yani Tseng, who is trying to shake off a mid-season slump, fired a six-under par 66 to grab a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s Canadian Women’s Open on Thursday.
The Taiwanese star began the 2012 season with wins in three of her first five tournaments but then hit the skids. She tied for 11th at last week’s Safeway Classic in Portland, Oregon.
Tseng’s round included eight birdies and a double bogey on Thursday at The Vancouver Golf Club course.
“If I miss a couple shots, I don’t worry about it, not like I did before, so I feel that this is the way I used to play,” Tseng said.
Tseng said she wishes rounds like this would go on forever.
“I wish I didn’t finish today,” Tseng said. “I wish I could keep going – keep playing. But 18 holes are finished. (Friday) is a new day, but I’ll try to keep that momentum going and try to do the best I can.”
US Women’s Open champion Na Yeon Choi was second after shooting a five-under 67.
New Zealand’s Lydia Ko, 15, was two shots back at 68 along with South Korea’s Inbee Park. Ko won the US Women’s Amateur earlier this month and in January she won the New South Wales Open in Australia at age 14, becoming the youngest player to win a professional tour event.
Mindy Kim and Angela Stanford were part of a group tied for fifth at three under. Michelle Wie, who won one of her two career Tour victories in Canada two years ago, had a 74.
