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LPGA Tour: Israeli golfer Beck sets flawless pace in Alabama

By REUTERS

MAY 6, 2016 05:49

Israel's Laetitia Beck took advantage of relatively calm early conditions before the wind strengthened to surge into a two-shot lead in Thursday's opening round of the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic in Prattville, Alabama.

The 24-year-old, the first golfer from Israel to qualify for the LPGA Tour, piled up seven birdies in a bogey-free display to fire a seven-under-par 65 on the Senator Course at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail.

That left her two strokes clear of American rookie Annie Park and Australia's Minjee Lee, with Mexico's Alejandra Llaneza a further shot back after carding a six-birdie 68.

Morgan Pressel, who won her first major title at the 2007 ANA Inspiration, opened with a 69 while fellow American Stacy Lewis, the world number four and the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic champion in 2012, returned a 71.

Beck, who has never recorded a top-10 finish on the LPGA Tour and has missed six cuts in eight starts this season, was delighted to be rewarded for a lot of recent hard work.

"I was doing well and making putts, even though I did miss some birdie opportunities," Beck told reporters after totaling only 26 putts. "But I made good putts for birdies and just kept going.

"I have been working on my swing in the past month or so. Struggled a bit after Australia but last week my game started feeling better," the Israeli, whose best finish this season was a tie for 27th at the Kia Classic in March, told lpga.com.

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