DALY CITY, Calif. (AP) Lydia Ko was back on top at Lake Merced.
Ko shot a 4-under 68 on a chilly Thursday morning at the LPGA MEDIHEAL Championship for a share of the lead halfway through the first round. Jessica Korda, Caroline Hedwall and In-Kyung Kim joined Ko atop the leaderboard in the LPGA Tour’s return to Lake Merced after a year away.
The Swinging Skirts LPGA winner at the course in 2014 and 2015, Ko eagled the par-5 fifth and had four birdies and a bogey. The 21-year-old from New Zealand has 14 LPGA Tour wins, the last in July 2016.
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Korda, playing alongside Kim a group ahead of Ko, also eagled the fifth and had four birdies and a bogey. Korda won in Thailand in February in her return from reconstructive jaw surgery.
Hedwall and Kim each had five birdies and a bogey.
Sei Young Kim, Charley Hull and Celine Herbin shot 69.
Michelle Wie had a 74, and ANA Inspiration winner Pernilla Lindberg shot 79.
Inbee Park, Lexi Thompson, Shanshan Feng, Brooke Henderson and Stacy Lewis played in the afternoon.