Miyazato sets pace at Safeway Classic

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This article was published 21/08/2010 (5748 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

NORTH PLAINS, Ore. — Bubbly Ai Miyazato of Japan threw down the gauntlet for her LPGA Tour rivals on Friday.

Miyazato ignored the wind and put up a clean card of six birdies and no bogeys for a six-under 66 to jump to the top rung after the first day of the US$1.5 million Safeway Classic at the Ghost Creek course at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Miyazato will be gunning for her fifth win of the season this weekend, and valuable momentum when the tour heads north to Winnipeg for next week’s US$2.25 million CN Canadian Women’s Open at St. Charles.

“I played well in the last round of the British Open… and my putting is really comfortable,” the Japanese star said after taking just 25 putts.

Miyazato is No. 2 in the Rolex Rankings, but will move back to No. 1 if she wins here.

“That’s really exciting,” she said. “The top five players all represent different countries. It’s a really good motivator for me.”

Miyazato leads Taiwan’s Teresa Lu and Korea’s Jee Young Lee by a shot. The group of four golfers at four-under includes long-hitting American Brittany Lincicome. Veteran Juli Inkster shares eighth at three-under with third-ranked Jiyai Shin of Korea.

The top Canadian is Red Deer’s Adrienne White, who made five birdies and shot two-under 70, the same as World No. 1 Cristie Kerr. Alena Sharp of Hamilton finished at one-under 71. The 54-hole championship wraps up Sunday.

— Tim Campbell