Angela Stanford leads first day of the inaugural RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup
World number 25, Angela Stanford of the United States, carded six under par 66 in the first round to lead the first day of the inaugural RR Donnelley Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) Founders Cup taking place at the Wildfire Golf Club at the JW
Marriot Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Arizona. 33-year-old Stanford holds a one stroke lead over compatriot Brittany Lincicome and Aree Song of South Korea.
The four time LPGA tournament winner Stanford scored a string of birdies with a couple of birdies early in the day on the first and second hole. The only blemish of the entire first round was a double bogey at the par four eighth followed by a strong comeback
with an eagle at the par four ninth. "I think after our first two events, I found out that I was struggling mentally, and I just get down on myself really fast," Stanford said. "So after the double I thought, okay, I have a choice here. I can either stay down
and just say, same old, same old, or go to the next hole and try to make it better.”
World number 23 Brittany Lincicome and world number 376 Aree Song tied for the second spot at five under par 67. American Juli Inkster shared a six way tie at the leader board with Sophie Gustafson of Sweden, Beatriz Recari of Spain and Mina Harigae, Nannette
Hill, Amelia Lewis of the United States. World number one, Yani Tseng of Taiwan, shot the worst round of the year with a surprising one over par 73 to share the 66th spot at the leader board with 20 other players including Natalie Gulbis of the
United States. Seven times major winner and the hall of famer Karrie Webb of Australia failed to make any impact on the first day with one under par 71 to share the 17 way tied 26th spot.
The unique format of the event made it compulsory for each player taking part to designate her charity before teeing off the first day. The first day leader had announced her charity to be the Angela Stanford Foundation which mainly fights cancer, teaches
golf and helps the local community in a number of other ways. "Doesn't matter to me if I'm playing for charity or playing for my bank account, I play to win," said Stanford. More than half of the players have dedicated the charity for Tsunami relief in Japan.
The tournament teed off with full strength of 144 player field despite the early criticism and concerns about the format.
The second day of the three day 54 hole tournament will be played tomorrow.
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