SHIMA, Japan (AP) — Morgan Pressel shot a 5-under 67 on Friday in the Mizuno Classic to take a one-stroke lead over 51-year-old Laura Davies and Chella Choi.
Pressel had five birdies at Kintetsu Kashikojima.
“It was tough out there with the winds. Especially early, some of those holes played really tough,” Pressel said. “I didn’t get myself in a lot of trouble and when I did I made a good putt for par. I definitely putted well today and I think that’s why I ended up at 5 under.”
The American won the last of her two LPGA Tour titles in 2008.
“It would mean the world,” Pressel said. “I haven’t had the best year, but I feel like I have been playing better recently, certainly in the other few events I played here in Asia. I feel like I can play well the rest of this week and the next two closing events and then enjoy the offseason.”
Davies won the last of her 20 LPGA Tour titles in 2001. The Englishwoman also has 45 victories on the Ladies European Tour.
“I still think I’m good enough,” Davies said. “I still think I can win tournaments and, while I still think I can win, I’m still going to play. The only thing holding me back is putting and that’s what I believe and that’s why I keep going. The fact that I’m 51 is irrelevant really. If you can walk, you can play golf.”
Choi, from South Korea, birdied four of the last seven holes.
“I like this course,” Choi said. “I played good last year so I have a good thing here. A lot of people like me and are cheering. The golf course is not too far. You just have to focus on each shot.”
Japan’s Kotono Kozuma was two strokes back at 69 along with South Koreans Ilhee Lee and Mi Hyang Lee and Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlam.
Second-ranked Stacy Lewis, the 2012 winner, was at 70 in a group that included Australia’s Karrie Webb and Japan’s Sakura Yokomine. Defending champion Teresa Lu of Taiwan had a 73.
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