Alison Lee of Valencia and Paula Creamer of Pleasanton were among seven players who shot 5-under-par 68 to share the lead after the first round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic at Ocean Club Golf Course in Paradise Island, the Bahamas.
The 20-year-old Lee (pictured), who still is attending classes at UCLA after leaving the Bruins’ golf team in December of 2014 in the middle of her sophomore year, collected six birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole.
“I’m really happy with how I played today, to be honest,” said Lee, who still is seeking her first LPGA Tour victory but played well enough last season to make the United States team for the Solheim Cup.
“I had no idea I would play this well. Like after my round, I just looked at (her caddie) and kind of laughed like, ‘Oh, my God, I shot 5-under. Wow, that’s great.’ Honestly, I don’t feel like I did enough to prepare.”
Creamer had five birdies and holed her second shot for an eagle on the eighth hole to
hold a share of the lead after one round for the first time since the 2014 Kia Classic at Aviara Golf Club in Carlsbad.
She has won 10 times on the LPGA Tour, but not since the 2014 HSBC Women’s Champions, when she holed a 75-foot eagle putt on the second playoff hole to defeat Azahara Munoz of Spain.
“Oh, I mean, this is obviously a great start,” said Creamer, whose only major title came in the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. “Of course I would take this in a heartbeat.
“I have worked really hard. I’m really enjoying the game, I’m enjoying practicing. I’m in a really good place and I hope I can keep it going. I know I can and we have a really good plan, my team and I, and continue to keep doing that.”
Charley Hull of England played bogey-free and also was tied for the lead with Mika Miyazato of Japan, Catriona Matthew of Scotland, Ashlan Ramsey and Haru Nomura of Japan.
Jennifer Johnson of Carlsbad, whose only LPGA Tour victory came in the 2013 Mobile Bay LPGA Classic, posted a 69 and was tied for eighth with Min Seo Kwak of South Korea.
Brittany Lincicome, No. 16 in the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings and one spot out of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team, recorded a 70 and was tied for 10th with seven others, including Danielle Kang of Westlake Village and Pepperdine.
Inbee Park of South Africa, ranked No. 2 in the world, struggled to an 80 and withdrew because of a back injury.
