Ryu So-Yeon took a huge step towards extending her longest active cut streak on the USLPGA Tour by shooting a nine-under 63 for a two-stroke lead at the Swinging Skirts Classic.

South Korea's Ryu hopes to put that streak to good use this week as she shot her lowest round of the season. Her bogey-free performance also set a tournament course record.

"Well, I was kind of lucky to tee off really early," Ryu said. "I had a really fresh green, no wind. Also San Francisco is really cold in the morning, but this morning it was just the perfect temperature.

"Then today everything was just great. My tee shot was great. I only missed one green today. I shot 17 greens. My putting was really good.”

Indeed, Ryu needed just 27 putts on Thursday to take the early lead ahead of Japan's Haru Nomura and Taiwan's Candie Kung.

Nomura, who also teed off in the early session, captured her first win on the LPGA Tour earlier this season at the Women's Australian Open. Kung carded her low round of 2016 with a seven-under par 65 on day one.

Kung bounced back from two opening bogeys by following up with nine birdies on the day.

Lin Xi Yu, of China and France's Christel Boeljon are tied for fourth at five-under par. Lin is coming off her second missed cut of the year.

Ryu may have the longest streak going but it hasn't translated into first-place prize money. She has struggled to break through since winning the Canadian Women's Open in 2014. That was also the last time she held a first-round lead.

"One thing I can say is I work really hard and my whole team works really hard. Hopefully it's going to pay off next three days," she said.

Defending champion Lydia Ko is tied for sixth at four-under par with a group that includes Catriona Matthew, Choi Na-Yeon and Rachel Rohanna. Ko battled in the first round, hitting just nine of 14 fairways and 10 of 18 greens.
Source :AFP