Pittsford, N.Y. – Becky Morgan shot an 8-under-par 64 in cool, rainy conditions Thursday to take a three-stroke lead over Lorena Ochoa after the opening round of the Rochester LPGA.
Ochoa closed with three straight birdies for a 67, one stroke ahead of Maria Hjorth (68) and two in front of 2003 U.S. Women’s Open champion Hilary Lunke (69). Se Ri Pak, Christina Kim, Laura Diaz and Rachel Hetherington were at 2-under.
Morgan is a two-time runner-up who has struggled this season. Her best finish in 2005 is a tie for 27th at the season-opening SBS Open in Hawaii, and she has missed the cut in five of 10 tournaments this year.
“Just one shot at a time and stay patient, which I guess I haven’t been this year,” the 30-year-old Morgan said. “It’s the best I’ve hit all year. I’ve been struggling to find anything.”
The 23-year-old Ochoa capitalized on the smooth-running greens.
“The greens are not as fast as they usually are, and you have to take advantage of that,” Ochoa said.
Rain fell throughout the day, and the temperature never climbed above 64 degrees. The overcast conditions reminded Morgan of her home in Monmouth, Wales, as did the old- style course with its tight, undulating fairways and compact greens – suitable for short but accurate hitters such as herself.
Morgan led the LPGA in driving accuracy in 2003 at 83.4 percent and is eighth this year at 82.9 percent.
But the 5-foot-2 graduate of North Carolina-Greensboro lacks on distance, averaging 233.5 yards this year, 151st on the tour.
She had a round of nine birdies and just one bogey, finding her touch with a new putter. Starting on the back nine, she opened with three birdies, bogeyed No. 14, but canceled that out with a birdie at No. 17. After the turn, she ran off five consecutive birdies starting at the third and made a 40-foot putt on No. 6.
Ochoa, a runner-up three times this year, came off a two-week break to tie for fifth at last week’s LPGA Championship and ranks third on the money list with $537,268. She burst to prominence with two wins in 2004, setting tour records for birdies (442), rounds under par (75) and rounds in the 60s (51). During her rookie year in 2003, she finished second in Rochester.
Cristie Kerr, second on the money list behind Annika Sorenstam, withdrew after six holes because of a knee injury.
