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Minjee Lee takes early lead in Palos Verdes Championship

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Minjee Lee, right, reacts after sinking a putt on the 15th green during the first round of the LPGA's Palos Verdes Championship golf tournament on Thursday, April 28, 2022, in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

PALOS VERDES ESTATES, Calif. ā€“ Minjee Lee shot an 8-under 63 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead over top-ranked Jin Young Ko halfway through the first round of the Palos Verdes Championship.

Coming off a third-place tie Sunday in the LA Open at Whilshire Country Club, Lee had a bogey-free round at hilly Palos Verdes Estates in the first-year event that wraps up the LPGA Tour's West Coast swing.

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ā€œI took Monday off. Didnā€™t even come to the course,ā€ Lee said. ā€œTuesday, I played nine holes and then I saw the other nine in the pro-am. ... I think itā€™s so hilly out here that you want to keep your legs fresh.ā€

The Australian closed with a 5-under 31 on the front nine.

ā€œI think itā€™s just the way like the holes are set up,ā€ Lee said. ā€œThere are a lot of birdie opportunities starting the front nine. Even like the first hole and the second and third, theyā€™re all wedges in. ... I just think there are a lot of opportunities in a row that you can kind of capitalize on.ā€

She won the Evian Championship last season for her first major title and sixth LPGA Tour victory.

Ko had six straight birdies on Nos. 2-7 on her final nine. She stumbled to a tie for 21st last week after sharing the lead with winner Nasa Hataoka late in the third round at difficult Whilshire.

ā€œBefore starting today I just remind (myself) that golf is golf,ā€ Ko said. ā€œDonā€™t think about last week. Starting again, new routine.ā€

Charley Hull, Moriya Jutanugarn and Jennifer Chang shot 65, and Albane Valenzuela had a 66.

Lexi Thompson played in the afternoon.

Anna Davis, the Augusta National Womenā€™s Amateur winner, opened with a 71 in her first LPGA Tour start. The 16-year-old is from Spring Valley east of San Diego. She received a sponsor exemption.

ā€œI think it was pretty much like every other tournament I would say,ā€ Davis said. ā€œThere werenā€™t like as many people, but Iā€™m expecting the next few days to see some more people out here. ... I wasnā€™t super nervous or anything.ā€

Hataoka is taking the week off.


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