Aussie Lee off to quick start in LPGA Match-Play

Las vegas: Minjee Lee, coming off a seventh US LPGA title at the Founders Cup, launched her LPGA Match-Play campaign with a 6&5 victory over Chun Young-In at Shadow Creek in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Wednesday.

Australia’s Lee, ranked fourth in the world and the top seed in the 64-strong field, seized control with back-to-back birdies to win the third and fourth holes. She birdied six and seven and eagled the ninth before winning the 10th and 11th with pars.

Chun won the 12th with a birdie before Lee took the match when they halved the 13th.

“It was really fun today,” said Lee, whose victory two weeks ago in New Jersey was her first since she captured her maiden major at the Evian Championship last year.

“I made a bunch of birdies. It was nice to get done early today — it’s getting really hot.

“It’s nice to have played really well today and hopefully I can take it…