Matthew Leads With 67 in Wind

KAPOLEI, Hawaii â€”  Scotland’s Catriona Matthew shot a five-under-par 67 in windy conditions Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the first round of the Hawaiian Ladies Open.

“I’m used to it. This is the kind of wind I grew up with,� Matthew said of the wind that gusted to 35 mph on the 6,100-yard Kapolei Golf Course.

“You have to play a lot of punch shots. If you try any kind of normal shot, the wind just takes it away. I was out there just trying to hit fairways and greens.�

She eagled the 459-yard 17th after hitting a three-wood from 217 yards within five feet of the cup.

Matthew’s closest challenger was South Korea’s Hee-Won Han, a Monday qualifier who finished with a 69 as darkness approached. She was the lone afternoon finisher to break par.

Cindy McCurdy was two under through 17 holes when play was suspended because of darkness.

Only three others in the 144-player field finished under par, with Leslie Spalding, Scotland’s Mhairi McKay and Vicki Goetze-Ackerman shooting 71s.

Swedish star Annika Sorenstam, second to Canada’s Lorie Kane last week in the Takefuji Classic, opened with a 74, and defending champion Betsy King had a 75. Kane and Australian star Karrie Webb shot 77s.