LOS ANGELES: Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit fired a stress-free six-under par 66 to take the first round lead Thursday in the year’s first golf major, the LPGA ANA Inspiration.
Patty, who played college golf at the University of California at Los Angeles, didn’t let any major championship nerves get the better of her, grabbing six birdies without a bogey for a one-shot lead over Chinese veteran Feng Shanshan and Ireland’s Leona Maguire.
“It was a pretty calm and relaxing day today,” said the 21-year-old, who is in her second year as an LPGA member after a rookie season disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
“I just stuck to my game plan and didn’t get too greedy out there. I know it’s a major, it’s tough, the course is really tough.
“I was just being really patient and I was waiting for putts to drop, and they did on the back nine.”
After two front nine birdies, Patty rolled in…
