Aussie stars illuminate LA
Hannah Green during the first round of the LA Open in 2019. (Photo: Getty)
Australia's brightest stars come to play in Tinseltown this week, with Hannah Green, Minjee Lee and Sarah Jane Smith on the first day of the LA Open.
West Australian Green & # 39; s opening 6-under 65 will see her sleeping on a portion of the nocturnal lead alongside American Stacy Lewis.
Only one shot back is fellow sandgroper Lee, the World No. 4 who signs for a 66 of her own at Wilshire Country Club to be in third place.
And expectant mother Smith was one of nine players who brought a 3-under-68 back in the opening round, enough for a share of fifth place in the rankings.
The Aussie trio did not rage between them on Thursday and the rising star Green flew in the middle of its round and rattled six birdies in a nine-hole course from the sixth.
"At the first hole I had a difficult par-putt, six-footer sort of sliding from right-to-left and I made that putt," Green said after her round.
"I really think this set the tone for the rest of the day. I feel that if I missed that, I might not have the same way of thinking that went on for the rest of the round, even if it's just the first hole
"My putter was very hot. I was very happy with how I rolled it. I can't really say that I ended up in putts where I was really disappointed in that series, so I feel like everything is coming together slowly. I think it's shown today. "
In her second full year on the LPGA Tour, Green is still chasing a debut title on & # 39; the world's top women's circuit after graduating from the Symetra Tour in 2017 on the back of three wins.
But the 22-year-old says she feels more comfortable than ever on the track in the early stages of the new season.
"It's just nice to come back to a familiar and kind of knowing, even though it's not always easy to do, just to know where you can't miss it, things like that," said Green
"I think that makes a difference when making a birdie or making a par.
"When I study the course, I'm not that good at remembering holes until I get there, so it's just fun to be like," I hit 3-wood on this t-shirt last year. When the tee was raised, I may have gone for it & # 39 ;. Only small things like that. "
Last week's winner on tour, Brooke Henderson, joins Smith in the 3-under player package, alongside Inbee Park in Korea and Shanshan Feng in China
Further up in the standings is Katherine Kirk, her even par 71 on Thursday enough for a share of 37.
In the meantime, Su Oh will have to improve its opening from 2 to 73 to take action during the weekend, the Victorian is currently on T73.