Pettersen surges into lead in Hawaii

2008-10-17

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LAHAINI, HAWAII (TICKER) —Suzann Pettersen has been shut out on the LPGA Tour despite her best efforts, but she is not discouraged.

Pettersen carded a 4-under-par 68 and holds a one-stroke lead after Thursday’s opening round of the $1.5 million Kapalua LPGA Classic.

Seeking her first win of the season, Pettersen birdied three of her final four holes to move ahead of Brittany Lang. Pettersen has won twice this season, but both were on the European LPGA Tour. She won the Deutsche Bank Ladies Swiss Open and the Irish Ladies Open.

“I’ve been close over here,” said the 27-year-old Norwegian, who has seven top-10 finishes this year - including a third-place showing two weeks ago at the Samsung World Championship.

“I just haven’t quite caught up. But I know that if I am patient and I play well, I’m capable of winning - and that’s the most important thing.”

Starting on the back nine, Pettersen recorded a pair of birdies for a 33 at the turn. She followed with four birdies on the front nine - including Nos. 6, 8 and 9 - and bogeyed the par-4 7th.

Pettersen surpassed Lang, who is at 3-under 69. The 23-year-old Lang, who is seeking her first career Tour win, posted her best finish when she tied for second at the Sybase Classic in May.

Lang sank five birdies, including consecutive ones on Nos. 14 and 15. Her only mistakes were bogeys on the par-3 12th and 17th.

“I played great,” Lang said. “I didn’t think it played that tough. I had a lot of changes on the back nine, my front nine. A lot of bogeys and some mistakes. Even on 12, I hit a great 8-iron, but with the wind swirling, you just pick a club, hit it and see what happens.”

Tracy Hanson recorded just one birdie in a flawless round but notched a hole-in-one on the par-3 12th. She is tied with Lang at 3-under.

“It was a 7-iron from 156 yards,” Hanson said of her hole-in-one. “It hit, kind of bounced right and then I looked away and one of the caddies said, ‘I think that went in’ and I said ‘No, no one is cheering.’ But the wind was blowing so hard, we couldn’t hear the cheering. I already had my putter in my hand.”

Anna Rawson is one of six players tied for fourth at 2-under 70. Like Lang, the 27-year-old Australian is seeking her first win on the Tour.

“It was interesting,” Rawson said of her round. “I just kind of got it around. I got it in the right positions, didn’t make many mistakes. I like the greens. I think they are really easy to read.”

Rawson is even with Ji Young Oh, Kristy McPherson, Laura Diaz, Brandie Burton and Sun Young Yoo.

Annika Sorenstam, who announced this will be her final season earlier in the year, had a terrible first round. The 72-time Tour winner is tied for 99th at 5-over 77.

World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa also has her work cut out for her. The Tour leader with seven wins this season, Ochoa is at 2-over.

First prize is $225,000.