Webb Off to Hot Start in Singapore


Australia's Karrie Webb is setting the pace in the LPGA Tour's HSBC Women's Champions, which began Thursday at Serapong Course at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore.

The 39-year-old Aussie - a 40-time LPGA winner - carded four birdies on the front nine and added two more on the back for her opening 6-under 66.

Webb, who won the Women's Australian Open two weeks ago, has a one-stroke lead over American Paula Creamer and Sweden's Caroline Hedwall.

The World Golf Hall of Fame member is enjoying the recent surge in her play. "I've had a good career and I feel like I want to finish in the fashion that I started," she told reporters.

"I just continue to work hard, and my working hard now is probably a little different to my working hard 20 years ago, but it's still working hard."

Creamer carded five birdies on the day and is off to a good start. "My main goal is just to be very consistent this year and a win happens by itself, you don't have to force any of that," said Creamer, a nine-time LPGA winner who's looking for her first victory since the 2010 U.S. Women's Open.

Taiwan's Teresa Lu and Texan Angela Stanford are two strokes behind Webb, while three back is Spain's Azahara Munoz.

No.1-ranked Inbee Park is among five players opening with 2-under 70s. "It wasn't a bad putting day, but I hit the ball great today," Park said. "And I didn't get myself in big trouble so that's good."

Only 19 players broke par on a course that, for the most part, proved resistant to low scoring. Defending champion Stacy Lewis got off to a poor start, posting a 3-over 75 that included four bogeys and just one birdie.

Among those opening with 73s were 16-year-old Lydia Ko of New Zealand; last week's winner in Thailand, Anna Nordqvist; Michelle Wie; and former No. 1 Yani Tseng.

The youngest player in the field and the youngest player ever to Monday qualify for the tournament, 14-year-old Amanda Tan of Singapore, shot a 7-over 79.

For all the scores, visit www.lpga.com.