Shanshan Feng makes solid start in Japan
Chinese Shanshan Feng opened the first round of Mizuno Classic 2012 brightly as she stormed into the share of third position after shooting a 69.
Feng is being regarded as one of the strongest contenders for LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) tournament as she did well in the last edition.
She came close to winning the 2011 Mizuno Classic but lost to Japanese Momoko Ueda in playoff.
However, this year, the Chinese star looks pumped up and has vowed to do her best.
She kicked off the opening round on Friday at the prestigious Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club, Shima-s**+, Mie, Japan and made the most of favourable weather and course conditions.
She fired a birdie on the first hole to set the ball rolling, but had to deal with a bogey on the next hole. Regaining her composure, the LPGA titan rattled off two consecutive birdies on
the 7th and 8th hole.
On the back nine, she faced little trouble adjusting to the conditions on some holes. Having carded a bogey on the 10th hole, Feng picked up pace and fired birdies on the difficult
par-3 11th and 13th hole.
South Korean Jiyai Shin remained the star performer in the first round as she posted a 68 to share the lead with Japanese Ayako Uehara.
Other key players who did well on Friday include American Angela Stanford, who posted a 69 to take the share of third position on the leaderboard.
Commentators said that Japanese spectators were supportive of players, giving encouraging feedback to star performers.
Current world number one Yani Tseng, who was expected to make a solid start, posted a 71 on Friday to tie for the 19th position.
Last year, Tseng was in a far better position than she is now as she fought hard till the end of the final moment.
“I think this year ‑‑ before I was pretty good to hitting kind of those different shots, and I feel like now this year I don't ‑‑ I'm kind of back out a little bit to not really get to hitting
those different shots like I did before,” Tseng had said during the 2011 Mizuno Classic.
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