Golf: Lewis powers into lead, Tseng toils

Lewis tied her personal best score and the tournament record at the Pattaya Siam Country Club.

BANGKOK: American Stacy Lewis stormed to a three-shot lead in a near-flawless first round at the Honda LPGA Thailand Open yesterday, while world number one Tseng Yani endured a horror start to her title defence.

Third-ranked Lewis blistered to the top of the leaderboard with a nine-under 63, lit up by an eagle and eight birdies.

The American, who is using a new driver this year, tied her personal best score and the tournament record at the Pattaya Siam Country Club.

“I don’t know, that shot just really gave me the confidence to really start swinging at it,” said the elated American. “It was just a great day.”

There could not have been a greater contrast in fortunes with world number one Tseng, who blundered through the round to finish with a three-over 75, 12 shots off the leader.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2013.