Thursday 29 January 2015 09:54, UK
Stacey Lewis was among three players to finish with a share of the lead after a shortened first day at the Coates Golf Championship.
The world No 3 shot a six-under-par 66 to sit at the top of the leaderboard alongside Azahara Munoz and Jessica Korda, but 20 players failed to complete their opening rounds before darkness fell in Florida on the first day of the new LPGA season.
All three co-leaders left it late in the day to make their moves: Lewis picking up five shots in her final six holes, Korda making two birdies in her final three and Munoz finishing with back-to-back birdies.
"I just stayed patient out there," said Lewis, quoted on the LPGA website. "Finally on the back nine I kind of got more comfortable again and started hitting golf shots.
"I had a couple birdies that were just tap-ins, which helped, and rolled a few putts in so it was a good day. I almost wish we didn’t have darkness and could keep going, I finally got into a rhythm there."
Austin Ernst and Ha Na Jang carded 67s to lie a shot off the lead, one ahead of Lydia Ko and Na Yeon Choi, while Cristie Kerr and world No 1 Inbee Park were among a big group on one-under.
