Klatten Opens with 65 at Kingsmill Championship


Relative unknown Joanna Klatten posted a 6-under 65 to take the first-round lead at the Kingsmill Championship. The $1.3 million LPGA Tour event began Thursday on the par-71 River Course at Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va.

The 30-year-old from Paris carded seven birdies and a bogey for a one-shot advantage over Americans Pat Hurst, Alison Lee and Morgan Pressel.

Klatten, who arrived in Virginia after missing six straight cuts this season, admitted that she's been struggling lately but that she feels an affinity for the River Course. "I haven't had a very good stretch lately," she told reporters.

"I mean, this is one of my favorite courses all year. I feel very comfortable here. It suits my eye really well. I think you have an advantage if you're among the long hitters."

She added that there are similarities with the venue and those back home. "First of all, it's the same type of grass, same type of courses I'm used to at home in Paris. So, you know, just familiar. I just love the way it looks."

Klatten has experienced some success overseas, but not much in the U.S. or on the LPGA Tour. Hopefully, that'll change this week. "It's such a better level here," she said. "It's not even comparable how much better the players are out here. The courses are longer, you know, the greens are harder. Around the greens is harder.

"So it was an adjustment, but I feel comfortable out here. I just love it out here. It's great golf and everybody is very hard working and takes it very seriously. It can only make you better."

Trailing Klatten by two are fellow Frenchwoman Perrine Delacour, South Korea's So Yeon Ryu and Americans Jacqui Concolino and Paula Creamer. Opening with 68s were Americans Nanette Hill, Austin Ernst, Angela Stanford and Katie Burnett, South Korea's Min Jung Hur and Australians Sarah Jane Smith and Minjee Lee.

Defending champion Lizette Salas struggled to a 75, while three-time Kingsmill winner Cristie Kerr had a 73.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko had a 71 while No. 2 Inbee Park had a 72 and No. 3 Stacy Lewis a 69.

One of the tournament's big draws, reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie, withdrew after a 78. The 25-year-old Hawaiian visibly limped during her round, and later said her decision to pull out was due to a "a left hip injury that has been bothering me this week." She called the Kingsmill Championship "one of my favorite events."

For updated scoring, visit http://www.lpga.com/tournaments/kingsmill-championship/leaderboard.