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Published on October 26, 2007

 Red-hot Suzann Pettersen shot a sparkling seven-under 65 to seize a two-stroke lead on the opening day of the US$1.3-million Honda LPGA Thailand at the Siam Country Club Pattaya Old Course yesterday.

Fresh from winning her fourth trophy of the year in South Korea last week, the Norwegian started in supreme form, reeling off eight birdies in the first 11 holes to establish a two-stroke lead over Canadian Alena Sharp.

Pettersen, who finished tied 38th in the last year's Honda event at the Amata Spring Country Club, was firing on all cylinders but came up just short on the 13th and 16th holes, where she sank bogeys. She recovered to birdie the last.

"It's a very good start. I hit 16 or 17 greens [in regulation] and had a lot of short putts for birdie,'' said Pettersen, who is one of the hottest players this year. She has won two of her four titles in the past three weeks.

"I first thought I would end the year among the top 15. Now I'm No 4. I'm just trying to take every week as a challenge to improve my rankings,'' said Pettersen, who has been an occasional visitor to Thailand. She once brought her family on vacation here, and coincidentally her brother's girlfriend is half-Thai.

Sharp, whose only top-10 finish was in the CN Canadian Women's Open, fired back-to-back birdies on the last two holes for a 67.

"It would be nice to finish off with a win this year, or another top 10 would be good. To be in this position, I've had it a few times this year and I won't let it slip away this time," said the 122nd-ranked player.

A stroke adrift was Rookie of the Year Angela Park of Brazil, who fired six birdies against two bogeys to share third place with Katherine Hull of Australia.

"I don't know why I play well in the first round. I'm going to go into tomorrow's round with exactly the same type of attitude. I will just tell myself to go out there and try hard again,'' said Park, who is an ethnic Korean.

Defending champion Han Hee-won, making a return to the tour this week after giving birth in April, was tied at fifth with countrywomen Kyeong Bae and Shi Hyun-ahn with a 69. American Reilley Rankin, Rachael Hetherington of Australia and Maria Hjorth of Sweden also shot 69.

Virada Nirapathpongporn, sporting a multicolour outfit, emerged as the best Thai contender with an even-par 72. She was two over for much of her round but saved the day with birdies on the 15th and 17th.

"I think I did pretty well. I found my way back from trouble. I was quite nervous at the beginning and calmed down on the back nine,'' said the Thai ace, who would not write off anyone's chances despite Pettersen's splendid start.

"It's a four-day tournament and she cannot hit seven under every day. But if she hits 28-under by the end of the week, she really deserves to win,'' added Virada, who shared 20th position with former world No 1 Annika Sorenstam, world No 6 Paula Creamer and American-Thai Stacy Prammanasudh.

"It was windy, so you knew you were going to make some mistakes and you had to minimise those. I didn't finish well but that's OK, it's a long tournament,'' said the world No 16, who dropped a double bogey on the 18th.

Thai hope Onnarin Sattayabanphot hit a one-over 73 for a share of 27th along with 15-year-old Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, who squandered her two-birdie advantage with a double bogey on the 16th and a bogey on the 17th.

Eleven-year-old Ariya Jutanugarn made a modest start on her debut in an LPGA event, hitting a three-over 75 for tied 41st.

"I was nervous because of the crowd. Normally I never had anyone coming and watching me at the junior level,'' said the youngest player in the field, who admitted she had had some disagreement with her caddy, sister Moriya, during play.

"We did argue. Sometimes she was right, but I just didn't listen to her,'' added the youngster, who is tied with Kraft Nabisco champion Morgan Pressel.

 Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

 The Nation

CHON BURI