Four days after making history, Ha Na Jang of South Korea made a little more news.
The 23-year-old Jang, whose U.S. base is San Diego, posted a bogey-free 7-under 65 to take the first-round lead by three strokes over six players after round one of the Coates Championship at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla.
On Sunday, Jang recorded the first double eagle in LPGA Tour history en route to a tie for 11th in the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic.
“No. 7 is a very lucky number, so I feel very comfortable today because last year I had a second-place finish (at Ocala), so I really have more confidence on this golf course,” said Jang, who finished second four times on the LPGA Tour but did not win as a rookie in 2015.
“I like it’s an old golf course, and just thinking like on the fairway and the greens, there’s no problem because the weather is perfect and then everything is really good today, yeah.”
Candie Kung of Fountain Valley and USC had a bogey-free 68 and was in the tie for second with Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England, Sei Young Kim of South Korea,. Kim Kaufman, Kelly Tan of Malaysia and In Gee Chun of South Korea.
Mo Martin of Pasadena and UCLA carded a 69 and was tied for eighth with top-ranked Lydia Ko of New Zealand, Juli Inkster of Los Altos Hills and San Jose State, Cristie Kerr, Lizette Salas of Azusa and USC, Lexi Thompson, Chella Choi of South Korea, Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand, Karine Icher of France and Pornanong Phatlum of Thailand.
