CANBERRA, Australia – Teen star Lydia Ko shot a 10-under 63 on Thursday to take the early lead in the first round of the LPGA Tour's season-opening Women's Australian Open.
The 15-year-old amateur won the New Zealand Women's Open on Sunday for her third victory in a professional tournament. Last year, Ko won the New South Wales Open to become the youngest player to win a pro tour event and the Canadian Open to become the youngest LPGA Tour winner. She also won the U.S. Women's Amateur.
Ko opened with a bogey on the 10th hole, birdied the next four holes and eagled the par-5 15th. She bogeyed the 16th and birdied Nos. 17-18 to make the turn at 6-under 30 at Royal Canberra. She added birdies on Nos. 2-4 and 6, dropped a stroke on No. 8 and closed with her 11th birdie of the day.
Colombia's Mariajo Uribe was a stroke back with half the field still on the course.
Top-ranked Yani Tseng, the winner at Commonwealth in 2010 and 2011, had a 68. Michelle Wie shot a 74.
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