Northern Ireland & # 039; s Meadow leads LPGA event after five birdies in a row

Stephanie Meadow has qualified to get a 2019 LPGA Tour card. LGA volunteers from America Classic-8 Meadow (NI); -6 A Olson, D Carter (USA); -5 C Knight (US), L Ruixin (Chi), M Jutanugarn (Tha) Selected others: -4 JG Lee6, IB Park (Kor), K Gillman, B Altomare, K Perry, H Green (all US), G Lopez (Mex) Full scoreboard

Stephanie Meadow in Northern Ireland made five consecutive birdies to surpass the first scoreboard on the LPGA Volunteers of America Classic.

The eight-under-par opening of the 27-year round of 63 gave her a two-stroke lead over Americans Amy Olson and Dori Carter in Texas.

Meadow, who qualified to get an LPGA Tour card for 2019, made only nine cuts in 20 events this year.

"I know I need a big week this week," Meadow said after her bogey-free lap.

"So what I scored today didn't really matter, I was just trying to reach the final goal," added the Antrim-born player, who is going into a fight to return to the qualifying school to get her card for next season.

"It's been a while since I put five in a row, which is nice. You know, you don't want to stop after three, you want to continue," she added.

China & Liu Ruixin shares fourth on a six-under 66 alongside US Cheyenne Knight and Thailand Moriya Jutanugarn.