Lua fires 67 for two-stroke lead

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Tiffany Lua shot a 5-under-par 67 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of stroke-play qualifying at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Monday.

Reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion Kimberly Kim and Ha-Na Jang of South Korea each shot 69 on the 6,094-yard layout at Kearney Hill Golf Links.

Korean Wonjoo Choi shot 70. Kate Ackerson, of Allen, Texas; Marci Turner, of Tompkinsville, Ky.; and Ryann O’Toole, of San Clemente, Calif., finished with 71s.

Defending champion Tiffany Joh opened with a 74, as did NCAA Division I player of the year Amanda Blumenherst. Blumenherst led Duke to its third consecutive national title last month.

Lua’s background

Lua is a two-time winner on the American Junior Golf Association circuit and a junior-to-be at Los Altos High in Hacienda Heights, Calif.

She hit 15 greens in regulation, and two of her five birdies were tap-ins. She did hole a 25-footer at 17 and the other two were from 10 feet.

Stroke-play qualifying continues with 18 holes today, with the low 64 scorers advancing to match play, which starts on Wednesday. The 36-hole final is scheduled for Saturday.