Jiyai Shin and Yukari Baba leading the Mizuno Classic
The current number one Jiyai Shin and Yukari Baba carded opening rounds of seven-under 65 to share the lead of the Mizuno Classic. The Mizuno Classic that began today at the Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Japan will be held from November 5th
to November 7th.
Morgan Pressel carded a six-under 66 and is alone in third place. The most recent winner of the LPGA, Na Yeon Choi is tied for fourth place. The LPGA Hana Bank Championship winner is sharing her position with Meena Lee, Chie Arimura, Miki Saiki, and Karine
Icher. All the ladies posted 5-under 67 today.
Na Yeon is leading the money list on the LPGA Tour right now. With two, wins, two thirds and three runner-ups, she’s the freshest player in the LPGA. Choi said that she will not change anything and is very confident about her game.
Shin, who had also won this tournament in 2008, started the day with four consecutive birdies. Another birdie came at the par-five seventh leaving the World number one player to make the turn at 5-under par 31. The back nine holes played by the leader weren’t
as impressive as the first nine since she shot a bogey at the twelfth and fourteenth hole. Even though she slipped, Shin made sure to stay on top by posting birdies on the 11th and 13th hole. She was able to overcome her slip on the
fourteenth by the two birdies she carded on the next two holes. Scoring par on the last two holes, Shin successfully secured a lead for the first round.
The other leader initiated on the tenth tee, bogeying the 13th but achieving three birdies afterwards. At the back nine, Yukari birdied the first two holes and reached minus six with a birdie at the par-three fifth. Posting a birdie on the seventh
hole and then making pars on the last two holes, Baba also topped the leader board.
"I had a great day," said Baba. "But there are a lot of excellent U.S. LPGA players this week and I know they will shoot lower numbers. So I will just try to play my game."
The Mizuno Classic is the last LPGA event in Asia for this season. The tour will now move to Mexico for the Lorena Ochoa Invitational which is scheduled to start on November 11th. That would be the last event before the Ladies Tour Championship which will
take place in December. With the season coming to an end, all the LPGA players hope to show their best game this weekend.
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