Pettersen Maintains Edge in Taiwan


Despite carding a 1-over 73, Norway's Suzann Pettersen kept her lead in the Sunrise LPGA Taiwan Championship. The $2 million, 72-hole event began Thursday at Sunrise Golf & Country Club in Yang Mei, Taoyuan, Taiwan.

The 32-year-old from Oslo got off to a rocky start with three bogeys in the first five holes, but managed to calm down after that with three birdies and a bogey the rest of the way. Pettersen is at 6-under 210, four strokes ahead of Spaniards Azahara Munoz (69) and Carlota Giganta (72) and South Korean Sun Young Yoo (72).

"I had a great warm-up, felt good," said Pettersen. "On the second, I kind of made a little amateur mistake trying to get too cute on the tee ball and left myself with a very tough up and down. Just couldn't get it going. Just made a few errors.

"Today was a tough day for me. It was all about hanging in there and trying to bring it back to where I started. Disappointing to three putt 17. But glad to make the birdie on the last.

"I could easily have lost it out there today," Pettersen added. "Obviously nice to finish on a good note. This is far from over."

Norway's Caroline Hedwall (72) is six strokes behind Petterse along with another Spaniard, Beatriz Recari (73).

LPGA Hall of Fame member Se Ri Pak matched the low round of the day, a 69, to join fellow South Koreans Jenny Shin (69), Eun-Hee Ji (69) and Na Yeon Choi (71) and American Irene Cho (72) in seventh at 1-over 217.

Other scores included a 70 by Lexi Thompson, the winner two weeks ago in Malaysia, moving the Florida teenager to T-12 at 218. Last week's winner, Amy Yang, is not playing in Taiwan.

Yani Tseng rallied with a 72 after opening with rounds of 76 and 78. The local favorite and 2011 Sunrise champion is now tied for 51st at 10-over 226.

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