Wie five back after first round of Q School
Daytona Beach, FL (Sports Network) - Shiho Oyama, ranked 42nd in the Rolex
Rankings, fired an eight-under 64 on Wednesday to take the first-round lead of
the 90-hole LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament.
Amateur Mika Miyazato shot a six-under 66 and is alone in second.
Mollie Fankhauser and Amy Yang are knotted in third place at minus-five, while
Jeehae Lee is alone in fourth place at four-under 68.
Michelle Wie's attempt to get back on to the LPGA Tour began Wednesday and she
availed herself nicely. She shot a three-under 69 in the first round and is
tied for sixth place.
The first 72 holes are played on both the Legends and Champions courses at
LPGA International, while players play only the Champions course during the
final round. The cut will reduce the field to the low-70 players and ties
after 72 holes.
Oyama started on the 10th tee at the Champions Course and tallied only one
bogey and that came at her second hole, the 11th. She rattled off nine
birdies, including four in her last six holes.
"My iron play was terrific today," said Oyama, who has recorded 12 top-10
finishes in 25 events on the LPGA of Japan (JLPGA) circuit, including a win at
the Masters GC Ladies. "I had a good time with Paul, my caddie, out there. He
helped me out a lot reading the greens, so we got a decent start and I feel
pretty good.
"This is the strongest tour in the world and I wanted to get up to the next
stage and compete on the highest level."
Wie was joined in sixth by Stacy Lewis, who picked up an unofficial LPGA Tour
victory in 2007 at the NW Arkansas LPGA Championship, and Audra Burks.
Maru Martinez, Chella Choi, Onnarin Sattayabanphot, Carolina Llano, Eunjung
Yi, Ashleigh Simon, Lean Wigger, Young-A Yang and Anna Grzebien share ninth
place at two-under 70.
The low-20 scores and ties will earn LPGA Tour cards for 2009.
12/03 18:03:15 ET
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