GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. —
Australian rookie Stephanie Kyriacou shot a 6-below 65 on Friday to purchase the important thing-round lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club.
The 21-year-broken-down Kyriacou, a two-time winner on the Females European Tour, teed off at 7: 15 a.m. in the important thing neighborhood of the atomize day No. 1 on the Bay Direction, earlier than the tricky wind began to blow off Reeds Bay. At 6,197 yards, the route is with out doubt among the shortest on tour, however the stiff jog and minute, undulating greens help present a stiff arena.
“The greens are reasonably now not easy,” Kyriacou acknowledged. “They’re spicy firm and so that they’re mercurial, so it’s roughly engaging to stick (photos). But it wasn’t as windy as the order rounds, in remark that used to be a particular.”
Sweden’s Frida Kinhult used to be a stroke aid.
Top-ranked Jin Young Ko used to be at 67 with Brooke Henderson, Dottie Ardina and Current Jersey participant Marina Alex. Alex acquired the Palos Verdes Championship in early Would possibly perchance moreover in California for her 2d tour title.
Twenty-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr and ragged native teaching pro Meaghan Francella had been in the neighborhood at 68.
Kyriacou benefitted from some advice from LPGA Hall of Famer and fellow Australian Karrie Webb earlier in the week. The 47-year-broken-down Webb, the 2013 Shoprite winner with 41 profession victories, ran into Kyriacou on the order green Tuesday and equipped some guidelines.
It paid off. Kyriacou loved a bogey-free round and carded six birdies.
“I honest roughly honest requested her what she did when she struggled with nerves in her prime. I honest requested how she coped with it and she or he gave me about a guidelines,” Kyriacou acknowledged. “She roughly honest acknowledged between photos to honest end your eyes and breathe and purchase brand to the birds and stuff. Correct to accumulate your ideas off issues. It’s so straightforward, nonetheless it’s very precious.”
Webb shot a 73 in her first tour delivery since January.
Kinhult, who used to be the tip-ranked amateur in 2019, moreover teed off early.
The ragged Florida Impart standout started at 8: 26 a.m. on No. 10. She closed with a flourish, making eagle at the par-5 ninth hole to end to within a shot of Kyriacou.
“I used to be having a stare upon the leaderboard all day,” Kinhult acknowledged. “I continuously assemble. I admire to salvage a minute of little bit of inspiring what’s going on available. I aloof are attempting to play my very own sport, however I noticed 6 below, so I attempted to purchase that one, which used to be superb motivation. It’s two extra days left, so anything else can occur.”
The fairways and grandstands had been brimming with fans who famend the match’s return to its in type early June slot. The occasion used to be held in early October the outdated two years thanks to scheduling conflicts prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some of the loudest ovations had been for Alex, the native popular who made her LPGA Tour debut at the ShopRite Classic in 2012.
Francella is taking half in in her first LPGA Tour match in 9 years, moreover a fan popular. Now a teaching pro at Philadelphia Cricket Club, she has spent the final two years serving to her mother fight breast most cancers.
“I’m now not going to quit my day job, I do know that,” Francella acknowledged. “But I’m honest making an try to relish it and salvage stress-free. I indubitably salvage reasonably a whole lot of parents out here searching at and supporting me. I spent reasonably a whole lot of time in my profession now not taking half in it. I’m indubitably having reasonably a whole lot of stress-free available.”