LPGA Classic: Stephanie Kyriacou leads in New Jersey after first-round 65; USA hold 5-1 Curtis Cup lead
Australian rookie Stephanie Kyriacou shot a six-under 65 on Friday to take the first-round lead at the ShopRite LPGA Classic.
The 21-year-old Australian Cypriot, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, teed off at 7.15am in the first group of the day at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club in New Jersey, before the tricky wind began to blow off Reeds Bay.
Kyriacou holds a one-shot lead over Sweden’s Frida Kinhult, with England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff two shots further back on three under.
Kyriacou, who missed the cut in each of her three most recent events and has never finished higher than 13th place on the tour, posted her lowest-ever LPGA Tour round.
“I just took three weeks off, so I think being able to just take some time off, work on some things, and then come out with a bit more confidence was definitely part of it,” said Kyriacou.
“But I don’t know, I just didn’t really make a mistake. When I missed the green, I made up and down. It was just fun to play today.”
