Pancake Leads after Suspended First Round of Bahamas LPGA Classic


Brooke Pancake fired with a 6-under 67 Thursday for a one-stroke lead in opening round of the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. The $1.3 million event began Thursday at a storm-wracked Ocean Club Golf Course on Paradise Island.

Pancake opened with all pars on the front nine but carded six birdies on the back for a one-stroke lead over fellow Americans Brittany Lincicome and Natalie Gulbis, and South Korean Inbee Park.

Play was halted at 4 p.m. (ET) because of heavy rain. Many golfers had yet to complete their opening rounds; play will resume Friday morning at 8 a.m. in advance of the second round.

Pancake, a 24-year-old from Chattanooga, Tenn., was happy to finish. "I luckily got to get out early this morning and really took advantage of not as strong - there's still wind but not as strong of a wind on my first nine, and I putted really well," said Pancake, who's seeking her first LPGA title. In 39 career starts Pancake has no top-10 finishes and just four top-25s.

"I gave myself a lot of birdie looks, and I really took advantage of those. It was definitely nice having those going into the back nine and going into the rest of the week."

Gulbis hasn't played competitively since the U.S. Women's Open last July as she's been recovering from hip surgery. The injury has kept her from walking; it was only a week ago that she walked 18 holes in Mexico with former LPGA great Lorena Ochoa.

Gulbis explained the surgery: "I had like where they cleaned up the tears in my hip, right around Thanksgiving, which I was trying to - first I went the conservative way where you have PT and you take rest, and then I went out and played and it wasn't any better."

The 32-year-old from Sacramento is glad to be back in action. "The last week I felt really good. Knock on wood," Gulbis added.

Defending champion Jessica Korda was at even-par through eight holes and will have a long Friday, weather permitting. New No. 1, Lydia Ko, played in the same group with Korda and was 1-under.

For updated scores, visit www.lpga.com.