Norton, USA, Aug 29 - AP - Allisen Corpuz demonstrated patience and persistence this year, which finally bore fruit at the FM Championship on Thursday. She fired a stellar 7-under 65 in the first round at TPC Boston, sharing the lead with Sei Young Kim and a hard-charging Jodi Ewart Shadoff.
Corpuz's round saw her make four birdies over the final six holes, culminating in a crucial 10-foot birdie putt on the par-4 ninth to match Kim's morning score, achieved in calmer conditions. Ewart Shadoff concluded her round in spectacular fashion, nailing four consecutive birdies.
"I holed a lot of putts outside 20 feet, which definitely helped," Ewart Shadoff remarked. "And then the last four just came down to good ball striking and some nice putts."
Nelly Korda, trying out a new blade-style putter, made seven birdies for an impressive 67 in her first outing at the TPC Boston course. This venue formerly hosted one of the PGA Tour's postseason events.
Corpuz, whose lone LPGA victory came at the U.S. Women's Open at Pebble Beach two years ago, had started the season strong with a couple of top 10 finishes, including a third in the Ford Championship in Phoenix earlier in March. Since then, top finishes had been elusive.
"Golf is such a funny game," Corpuz said. "Even without the results I wanted, I felt really close all season. It was a good start, and it feels like things are turning the corner now."
Kim, playing in cooler morning conditions, wondered if the weather might lengthen the course by decreasing ball flight. Regardless, she birdied three par-5s and settled for a par on the final challenging hole, which features a large ditch and big swales.
This hole also ensnared Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, recently returned to World No. 1. After blasting a tee shot, her second shot on the par-5 18th veered left, landing down a steep slope. Her first pitch came up short, and she carded a bogey for a 69.
Two major narratives have shaped the LPGA season: 22 events each won by different players and Korda’s winless streak. Following a dominant seven-win 2024 and her recent removal from the top ranking by Thitikul, Korda is striving for victory. Her 67 positioned her in a tie for third with players like Women's PGA champion Minjee Lee, Celine Boutier, Andrea Lee, and LPGA rookie Gurleen Kaur.
Korda explained that Floridian courses aren’t in their best state during summer, so she couldn’t fully judge the new putter. However, after testing it in Canada and liking its feel, she decided to stick with it. She said, "Just something new. I knew I had a lot of success with that type of putter and felt confident. Just needed something different."
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