Americans Cristie Kerr, Brittany Lincicome and LPGA rookie Lizette Salas fired three-under 69s to share the lead after Thursday’s first round of the US Women’s Open.
In sweltering heat with no relief from the wind at Blackwolf Run, the trio seized the top spot at the year’s third major women’s championship by handling the conditions, their rivals and the most difficult layout they face all year.
Sharing fourth on 70 were 17-year-old US star Lexi Thompson, American Jennie Lee, Japan’s Ai Miyazato and Spain’s Beatriz Recari.
Salas opened and closed her round strongly with a five-foot birdie at the 18th allowing her to join the top group. Her lone bogey came at the par-4 11th.
“We just figured any putt on the green is a birdie putt,” Salas said. “Down the stretch we had some good birdie opportunities and I took advantage of that last one.”
Kerr, ranked eighth in the world, began on the back nine and birdied the 11th, par-3 13th and par-5 16th then finished with 11 pars to claim her place at the top of the leaderboard.
Kerr’s 14 LPGA titles include a victory at the 2007 US Women’s Open while Salas has yet to claim a pro victory.
Lincicome made bogeys at the first and fifth but each time answered with a birdie on the following hole. She added birdies at the par-5 seventh and 10th holes and another at the par-3 17th to share a share of the lead.
Seven-times major winner Karrie Webb, who won the US Open in 2000 and 2001, had a horror round, firing three bogeys and a double bogey en route to a three-over 75 to sit six shots off the lead along with fellow Australian Katherine Hull.
Hall of Famer Webb is the youngest woman to complete the career grand slam, having done so at age 26 by capturing the 2001 LPGA Championship.
World No.1 Yani Tseng of Taiwan, trying to complete a women’s golf career grand slam with a victory this week, opened with a 74 to stand five adrift.
Tseng owns five major titles, the most recent won at age 22 at the 2011 Women’s British Open.
Tseng, whose best US Women’s Open finish was a share of 10th in 2010 at Oakmont, won three titles in her first eight events of the year.