Stark, Meechai take 1st-round lead at LPGA Shanghai in tour’s return to China after pandemic

SHANGHAI (AP) — Maja Stark and Wichanee Meechai both had impressive rounds of 6-under 66 on Thursday, propelling them to a two-stroke lead in the first round of the LPGA Shanghai event. This tournament marks the tour’s long-awaited return to China following the COVID-19 pandemic.

The European rookie, Stark, who was part of the team that tied the Americans and managed to retain the Solheim Cup last month in Spain, got off to a fantastic start by birdying four of her first six holes at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club course. Meechai, despite a bogey on the first hole, finished strongly with two birdies.

“Playing in the Solheim Cup has given me an incredible amount of confidence,” said Stark. “To have an entire continent rooting for you puts a lot of pressure, but it also motivates me to perform at my best.”

Americans Danielle Kang, Lauren Coughlin, and Alison Lee, along with Chinese players Cai Danlin and Li Shuying, all finished the round with a score of 68, placing them in a 10-way tie for third place.

Kang, aiming for her third consecutive victory in Shanghai after winning in 2018 and 2019, is one of the top contenders in the field.

The tournament features players from 21 different countries, including the top two players in the women’s world rankings, Lilia Vu (72 on Thursday) and Women’s PGA champion Ruoning Yin, who shot 71.

Lydia Ko, a New Zealander of South Korean descent, had a challenging round and finished with a score of 74.

The event has a field of 81 players, with no cuts, consisting of 62 players from the LPGA Tour, 15 from the China Ladies PGA, and four sponsor exemptions. This tournament is the start of a four-tournament Asia swing, with later stops in South Korea, Malaysia, and Japan.

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