Power Move: Choi takes lead at LPGA Manulife Classic by driving through wind

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CAMBRIDGE, Ont. — South Korea’s Chella Choi was the only one ready for the wind.

Choi shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday to take a one-stroke lead after the first round of the LPGA Manulife Classic. Gusts of wind made long drives difficult for most of the field, but Choi had been focused on improving her drives in the days leading up to the event, coincidentally giving her a powerful stroke off the tee that could force the ball to the green.

“I worked really hard the last three weeks,” said Choi after completing her round at Whistle Bear Golf Club. “I want to hit straight and strong on my drive all four days, so I focused on just my driving for four days strong.

“So that’s why my driving is better, so the game is easier than before.”

It looked like Choi would finish the day in sole possession of second as Spain’s Belen Mozo was 7 under heading to the 18th tee. But Mozo triple bogeyed on No. 18, dropping into a tie for sixth.

Mozo’s tee shot was especially victimized by the wind, going wide right, over the spectator’s pathway and into thick rough. She had to hack her way out of the long grass before going into two bunkers and finally on to the green.

The Spaniard was in the second last grouping of the day and apologized to reporters as she rushed to the driving range before it closed for the day.

American Brittany Lang, Spain’s Azahara Munoz and Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist were the clubhouse leaders after the morning session, with all three firing a 5-under 67 before the wind picked up.

“I’m very happy,” said Lang, who won the tournament in 2012 and was in contention last year. “I had a lot of just great putting, a lot of aggressive swings, and I’m going to just run those through my mind, the positives, and I’m ecstatic for the next few days.”

Even then, Lang admitted that the wind made the course especially tricky.

Choi had seven birdies, including four in her final nine holes, to surge up the leaderboard and overtake Lang, Munoz and Holmqvist.

“Pretty good. Pretty good,” said Choi. “A lot of wind today. But my game is good and driving is good, my shots were good, so I made a lot of birdies.”

South Korea’s In Gee Chun joined the group tied for second after firing 5 under in the afternoon session.

Hamilton’s Alena Sharp and Maude-Aimee Leblanc of Sherbrooke, Que., were the low Canadians at 3-under 69 on the day. World No. 3 Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., and Charlottetown’s Lorie Kane were 2 under.

“The wind really picked up on the back nine. It was kind of difficult,” said the 18-year-old Henderson. “And you could see all three of us not really playing exactly the way we wanted just because of the wind and the conditions, but I finished 2 under on an afternoon tee time in windy conditions, so I’m happy.

“I’m just excited to tee it up tomorrow where conditions will be a little bit softer and not as much wind.”

Calgary’s Jennifer Ha was 1 under, amateur Josee Doyon of St. Georges-de-Beauce, Que., and Anne Catherine Tanguay tied for 70th at even par. Amateur Maddie Szeryk of London, Ont., was 1 over, Vivian Tsui of Markham, Ont., was at 2 over, Samantha Richdale of Kelowna, B.C., and Jennifer Kirby of Paris, Ont., shot 3 over.

Nicole Vandermade of Brantford, Ont., finished the round 4 over and amateur Selena Costabile of Thornhill, Ont., was 9 over.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press

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