Jeong Jang takes narrow opening advantage

Despite a cold and rainy start to the £1.05million Weetabix Women’s British Open at Royal Birkdale GC, today, Korea’s Jeong Jang carded a four-under-par 68 to take the outright tournament lead.

The 2000 champion, Sophie Gustafson from Sweden, finished alone in second position one shot back after a three under par 69 and Chilean Nicole Perrot carded a 70 to take third place at two under par.

Liselotte Neumann from Sweden, Kimberly Williams from the USA, 15-year-old amateur Carlota Ciganda, from Spain and Anja Monke from Germany were tied at one under par 71.

Eight players finished at level par 72 including Linda Wessberg from Sweden, who plays on the Robe di Kappa Ladies European Tour (LET).

World no. 1 Annika Sorenstam trails by five strokes after a one over par 73 and the defending Champion, Karen Stupples from England, finished at three over par, to finish alongside 15-year-old amateur Michelle Wie, from Hawaii.

Play was suspended at 10.24am for 56 minutes due to unplayable conditions as the greens were water logged after the heavy rainfall – and again at 20.24pm. The remaining matches will resume play at 8.00am tomorrow and round two will continue at the scheduled times.

The conditions did nothing to deter Jang, 24, from Daejeon, who is in her fifth year on the LPGA Tour.

“I play really good when it is windy, so think about that,” said the player, who is just 5’2” in height, adding: “But I don’t really like playing in the wind”.

Gustafson, who won the event when it was last played at Royal Birkdale GC in 2000, said: “Well, I'm not sure there's a lot to say except that it's actually my favourite course.

She admitted it was nice to be back in Europe and that she was coming back into form: “I actually think that I have been playing better than what my scores have shown”.

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