Slow starts to the season for Maguire and Meadow in Boca Raton
BOCA RATON, FLORIDA - JANUARY 27: Lydia Ko of New Zealand hits from the 18th tee during the first round of the 2022 Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio Golf Club on January 27, 2022 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
Leona Maguire and Stephanie Meadow struggled on their seasonal debuts in the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio.
Meadow took 33 putts in three-over 75 as Maguire hit just seven fairways in a one-over 73.
New Zealander Lydia Ko fired a nine-under-par 63 to edge two shots in front of American Danielle Kang , who is bidding to start the season with back-to-back wins.
Her bogey-free effort, the 15th unblemished round for Ko in the last two seasons (three more than any other player in that span) opened a two-shot cushion over Danielle Kang through 18 holes and ties Ko’s lowest opening round of her LPGA career, most recently recorded at the 2013 Australian Open..
“I didn't have a great time on the putting green last week [at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions], so to kind of see putts going in was good imagery, and I tried to feed off that for the rest of the round,” said Ko, who made five putts in eight attempts from 15-20 feet on Thursday.
“I hit a string of birdies on my front nine [after starting on No. 10]. Overall, I didn't get into much trouble, was putting myself in play. When I had an opportunity for birdie, for the most part I was able to hole it, which is nice.”
Meadow doubled bogeyed the par-four seventh and bogeyed the par-five 10th en route to her 75 while Maguire bogeyed the fifth and eighth before getting a shot back at the par-three 17th to finish the day tied 103rd.
Maguire was tied for 81st as she hit seven of 14 fairways and 11 greens in regulation in a 30 putt round alongside Solheim Cup teammate Madelene Sagstrom, who shot 70 and Jennifer Kupcho, who posted a 68.