DALY CITY, Calif. — As Lydia Ko geared up to turn 18 today at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, right behind her on the leaderboard was 54-year-old Juli Inkster.
Refreshed and ready to make a run at defending her title, top-ranked Ko returned from two weeks off to take the first-day lead Thursday at 5-under 67.
Ko nearly chipped in for eagle on the par-5 14th, but the ball deflected off the pin. She settled for a tap-in birdie putt, and that moved her to the top of the leaderboard at Lake Merced Golf Club.
"This is a very tough golf course. You need to position yourself well," Ko said. "I hit the ball pretty good where I wasn't in too much trouble. If I did miss it a little bit, I did get away with it, too. It's a really good start, but I know I've got three long days to go."
Ko will celebrate her birthday on the course, then go out for a nice dinner with friends.
Ko had a one-stroke lead over three others, including Inkster.
Inkster, done hours earlier before the wind began whipping in earnest, quickly corrected the notion she is facing a talented field with women her daughters' ages.
"They're a lot younger than my daughters," she said, grinning. "They're 25 and 21. Out here that's a seasoned veteran. … That's the beauty about golf. I mean, age matters in a lot of things as far as how your body feels and how far you hit the ball and how much time you can put into it. You can still go out there and compete at 54."
Stacy Lewis, last year's runnerup, was two strokes back at 69. "It was probably one of the craziest rounds of golf I've ever played," said Lewis, who had four bogeys on her front nine, an eagle on the par-4 11th and three birdies on the back.
PGA: Boo Weekley had an eagle and seven birdies for 8-under 64 and a share of the first-round clubhouse lead with Brendon de Jonge in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans at Avondale, La. Afternoon rain halted play for 1 hour, 20 minutes. The round was suspended because of darkness with 12 players on the course. They were scheduled to resume play at 8 this morning. Sean O'Hair and David Hearn shot 65.