LPGA Hana Bank Championship 2012: Angela Stanford inside top 10 in opening round
American Angela Stanford was one of the three Americans who stood inside the top 10 at the end of the first round of LPGA Hana Bank Championship 2012, as she fired a 68 to tie for the ninth
position.
Stanford may not be regarded as the best American LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) star as Stacy Lewis is also in the field to put her skills to the test, but she played much better
than most of her national and Asian rivals.
The American star kicked off the round on Friday in impressive style as she parred the first hole and drained two back-to-back birdies on the second and third hole.
Calm winds, and favourable weather and course conditions proved to be an added advantage on the first day of the three-round tournament—and Stanford was not too far behind when it came to
capitalising on it.
She rattled off birdies on the 5th and 7th hole to further strengthen her position on the leaderboard. Despite getting off to a cautious start, Stanford fumbled on some
holes as she posted a bogey on the par-3 8th hole.
On the back nine, all her efforts could garner was a lone birdie on the par-4 15th.
Stanford, who turned professional in 2000, has done well in the current season as she won the HSBC Women’s Champions in February 2012. However, the modest golfer has often regretted not playing
up to her potential.
“I've always taken a lot of pride in being consistent. I think that is what bothered me the most about this year is I haven't been consistent,” Stanford said in one of her interviews.
Norwegian Suzann Pettersen, who was not in the limelight until Friday morning, tore apart the entire line-up as she fired a 63 to grab an early lead.
Pettersen rattled off nine birdies and steered clear of bogeys.
Commentators said that the next two rounds will be even more crucial for the Norwegian star as Asian rivals will be forced to pick up pace in the hope of boosting their positions on the leaderboard.
Stanford is not the only American who put her best foot forward in order to give South Koreans and other Asian contenders a tough time, Mina Harigae and Lexi Thompson also took the share of
the ninth position as they shot a 68 each.
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