Suwannapura leads Blue Bay after first-round 68

[November 08, 2018]    Thidapa Suwannapura of Thailand shot 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead after the first round at the Blue Bay LPGA in China on Wednesday.

Fellow Thai and world No. 1 Ariya Jutanugarn is one stroke back in a tie with Alena Sharp of Canada.

Suwannapura had five birdies and one bogey on the day as she seeks her second title. Suwannapura won her first title in July at the Marathon Classic.

"With this golf course it's really challenging and it's windy and you have to think where to go, where to miss." Suwannapura said. "It's kind of fun to play in this golf course. We just enjoying playing today."

Suwannapura suffered a broken back in 2016 and has been working her way back after having surgery to repair it.

Three more players from Thailand are part of a six-way tie two strokes back. Benyapa Niphatsophon, Moriya Jutanugarn and Pannarat Thanapolboonyaras are joined by South Korea's Chella Choi, Mexico's Gaby Lopez and Jennifer Song of the United States after shooting 70 in the opening round. Song had an ace on the 152-yard par 3 No. 7.

"I think we (have golfed) since when we were pretty young, and right now golf in Thailand is growing up a lot," explained Ariya Jutanugarn of the influx of her countrymates -- including her sister Moriya -- atop the leaderboard.

Last year's winner, China's Shanshan Feng, got off to a rocky start and finished the day in a tie for 48th at 3 over.

--Field Level Media

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