Lorena Ochoa shot a 5-under-par 68 on Thursday in the Mexican star’s first round as the No. 1 player in the world, leaving the defending champion a stroke behind leader Stacy Prammanasudh in the Corona Championship in Morelia, Mexico.
Ochoa, who took the top spot in the rankings from Annika Sorenstam on Monday, had two eagles, five birdies and four bogeys in windy conditions on the Tres Marias course, a Jack Nicklaus- designed layout that sits 6,300 feet above sea level.
After playing the back nine first, the 10-time LPGA Tour winner eagled the par-5 fifth and eighth holes, hitting a 7-wood from 216 yards to 21 feet on No. 5 and a 9-iron from 160 yards to 27 feet on No. 8.
“It was a day of ups and downs. I was very pleased with the eagles, and the bogeys come with the emotion of playing a little aggressively,” said Ochoa, followed by a swarm of fans giving hearty applause on almost every swing. “We planned to get 5-under each day so I’m very tranquil and happy.”
Prammanasudh had four birdies and an eagle en route to her 67.
“I knew you had to make birdies out there, just with how soft the greens are and you can be really aggressive with your putts,” the Oklahoman said. “Luckily, I didn’t have any mistakes out there and just made some birdies when I had to.”
Na On Min matched Ochoa with a 68. The South Korean rookie had eight birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.
Sorenstam has been sidelined by a ruptured disc in her back.
PGA: Sean O’Hair, who was pushed into the professional ranks while in high school by an overbearing father, shot a season-best 5-under 65 in the Byron Nelson Championship in Irving, Texas, to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Brett Wetterich and Anders Hansen after the tournament’s first round without its namesake.
“You don’t want to be known for other stuff,” O’Hair said. “My life is in a great spot. I’ve got two beautiful kids I love to death and I’ve got a beautiful wife who does nothing but support me. … I’m very fortunate to be in the situation that I’m in.”
That wasn’t always the case for O’Hair, who was pushed relentlessly by his father to be a star. He used to have to run a mile for every bogey and turned pro at age 17, a year before he finished high school.
Wetterich’s 66 included an eagle 3 on the 554-yard 16th hole when he hit his approach within 7 feet of the pin. His 20-foot birdie attempt for a share of the lead at the closing 440-yard hole at the TPC Four Seasons course slid just left of the cup.
Nelson, the champion golfer known as “Lord Byron” and in 1968 the first to have a PGA Tour event named after him, died Sept. 26. He was 94.
“It is a little sad to not see Byron there. I really miss him,” Phil Mickelson said after his round of 69. “But I don’t think he’s very far away from us.”
European PGA: American Notah Begay shot a 4-under 68 to take the clubhouse lead in the rain-delayed first round of the Spanish Open in Madrid.
