Japan's Uehara Sets Pace in Women's British Open


Japanese player Ayako Uehara carded a 4-under 68 to take the 18-hole lead in the Women's British Open. The third of five majors in women's golf got started Thursday at Royal Birkdale.

Uehara, who's playing her second year on the LPGA Tour, carded five birdies and a bogey for a one-shot lead over American Mo Martin. Two behind are Australian Sarah Kemp and Americans Mina Harigae and Morgan Pressel.

Sharing sixth at after 1-under 71s - and the only other players to break par - are defending champion Stacy Lewis, England's Holly Clyburn and South Koreans Amy Yang and So Yeon Ryu.

Lewis, who edged South Koreans Na Yeon Choi and Hee Young Park by two strokes last year on the Old Course at St. Andrews, was impressed with the score put up Uehara on a day when the conditions may be the most benign of the week.

Lewis was paired in the first round with Uehara and British teenager Charley Hull, who carded a 73.

"Ayako obviously put up a really good number," said Lewis, the No. 1-ranked player in women's golf. "She seems like she wasn't in trouble at all. She was just greens, greens, center of the green. You can kind of learn a little bit from that and maybe not go at so many pins."

But Lewis warned that Royal Birkdale will get more difficult in the days ahead. "It's only going to get harder," she said. "Anything under par on this golf course is a good score."

Pressel, who needed only 23 putts, agreed with Lewis. "I don't think they can make it any easier," she said.

Fourteen players made it to the clubhouse at even-par 72. The group includes World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb of Australia, who won the Women's British Open in 2002, and Lexi Thompson, winner of the LPGA's first major of 2014, the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Also coming in at even-par were top players Anna Nordqvist, Jiyai Shin, Lydia Ko, Suzann Pettersen and Inbee Park.

Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie had a tough time negotiating the famed links bordering the Irish Sea. The 24-year-old Hawaiian posted a 3-over 75 that included five bogeys and just two birdies.

"Thought I made a good game plan," Wie said. "Just didn't hit good shots today."

Wie knows she'll have to get her game straightened out to have any chance of climbing up the leaderboard. "I definitely felt like my tempo was a little bit off," added Wie, who has two victories and another six top-10s in her past nine starts.

"But it's a long way until Sunday, and I battled out there. It's not the score I was looking forward to on Thursday, but it could have been a lot worse."

After posting a 9-over 81, 16-time LPGA winner Cristie Kerr withdrew, citing a sore back. Also pulling out was Germany's Caroline Masson.

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