It seemed like they were giving away birdies up in Oneida, Wisconsin on the Fourth Of July.
Thornberry Creek became Birdie-berry Creek as 103 players shot under par at the LPGA’s Thornberry Classic.
Second-year Chinese player Yu Liu had the best day of everyone — she tied the course record with a 10-under par 62 that featured eight birdies and an eagle.
“I just made a lot of putts, mid-range putts inside 15 feet, which didn’t really happen at all last week,” Liu said after her round. “I really love the greens here. Last year I had my career low round of 9-under out here, so I really like the golf course apparently. So it’s just nice to be out here. Just great vibes.”
One shot back was a young American making her professional debut.
After an outstanding summer last year, Yealimi Noh turned down an offer to play collegiate golf at UCLA and instead went pro. After turning pro at the beginning of 2019, Noh successfully Monday qualified for this week’s event to get into her third tournament as a pro. He practice sessions paid off, as she put up eight birdies, one eagle and a bogey for a first-round 63. She sits one stroke behind Liu.
“I was actually really nervous on the first hole. I told myself I wasn’t nervous, but it was a little different playing my first LPGA event as a pro,” said Noh, who opened with three consecutive birdies. “I chunked it on the first hole, but it was all right. Throughout the round I got a little more comfortable.”
Last July, Noh won the Girl’s Junior PGA Championship, U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship in three consecutive weeks.
Noh was tied for second with Jeong Eun Lee.
Another eight players were in at eight-under par and another seven were at seven-under on a day when 68 players shot under 70.
