Pressel Up by One at Mizuno Classic


Morgan Pressel got off to a good start in the 54-hole Mizuno Classic. The 26-year-old Floridian carded a 5-under 67 to take the first-round lead in the $1.2 million LPGA Tour event at Kintetsu Kashikojima Country Club in Japan.

The first of Pressel's two career wins came in a major - the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship, but she hasn't won since the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic, a span of over six years.

But on Friday Pressel was able to handle the difficult conditions better than the field's other players and enters Saturday with a one-stroke lead over South Korean Chella Choi and 51-year-old Laura Davies.

"It was tough out there with the winds. Especially early, some of those holes played really tough," said Pressel, who enjoyed a spotless five-birdie scorecard. "I didn't get myself in a lot of trouble and when I did I made a good putt for par. I definitely putted well today and I think that's why I ended up at 5-under."

Davies was selected for the 2014 World Golf Hall of Fame class and will be formally inducted next July. The 84-time international winner hasn't won on the LPGA Tour since 2001, with her most recent victory anywhere coming in 2010 in New Zealand.

Trailing Pressel by two are Japan's Kotono Kozuma, South Koreans Mi Hyang Lee and Ilhee Lee (no relation), and Thailand's Pornanong Phatlum.

No. 2-ranked Stacy Lewis shot a 70 and is tied for eighth with Japanese players Sakura Hokomine, Haru Nomura, Ahyako Uehara and Saiki Fujita, Korean Sun Young Yoo, Aussie Karrie Webb and fellow American Marina Alex.

Defending champion Teresa Lu of Taiwan carded a 73, and two-time Mizuno Classic winner Jiyai Shin of South Korea had a 71.

No. 1 Inbee Park and third-ranked Lydia Ko aren't entered this week. Park will return to action for next week's Lorena Ochoa Invitational in Mexico. Reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Michelle Wie also isn't playing.

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