On THE LINKS | Thursday’s professional golf roundup

RBC HERITAGE

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.

Former world No. 1 Luke Donald came back strong Thursday in the RBC Heritage after missing the Masters for the first time since 2004, shooting a 5-under 66 for a share of the first-round lead with Branden Grace. The current top-ranked player, Jason Day, looked as if he’d make it a trio on top, but settled for a 67 after taking an unplayable lie in a bunker at Harbour Towns’ closing, lighthouse hole and making his lone bogey. Day was tied with Matt Kuchar, David Lingmerth and Tony Finau. Donald has a history of playing well at Harbour Town, breaking par for the 23rd time in his past 29 rounds. The one thing he has yet to do here is win.

LOTTE CHAMPIONSHIP

KAPOLEI, HAWAII

Su-Yeon Jang shot a 6-under 66 on Thursday at windy Ko Olina to top the leaderboard halfway through the second round of the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship. Jang, the 21-year-old South Korean player who got in the field on a sponsor exemption, is coming off a victory last week on the Korean LPGA in an event also sponsored by Lotte. “I felt confident after winning the tournament last week,” said Jang, making her second LPGA Tour start and first in the United States. “So, that helped me a lot.” She had eight birdies and two bogeys Thursday to reach 7-under 137. “My shot in general was good,” Jang said. Defending champion Sei Young Kim was second after her second straight 69. The South Korean player won last month in Phoenix for her fourth LPGA Tour title in two seasons. She finished on the front nine, closing with a 3-under 33. “(First) nine a little bit stronger than the (last) nine,” Kim said about the wind. “The (last) nine, not too strong the wind. So, I play easier.” Third-ranked Lexi Thompson and Lizette Salas rallied, each following an opening 75 with a 66 to reach 3 under. “A lot different than yesterday,” Thompson said. “Yesterday was just a struggle on the greens. Don’t really know what was going on. I hit it great yesterday. Just the hole seemed like a penny size. But today it was overall very solid day out there.” Thompson eagled the par-5 fifth for the second straight day. “It wasn’t as windy today, that’s for sure,” Thompson said.

SPANISH OPEN

SOTOGRANDE, SPAIN

France’s Alexander Levy shot a 5-under 66 at Valderrama to take the first-round lead in the European Tour’s Spanish Open. Defending champion James Morrison of England was a stroke back along with Spain’s Alejandro Canizares, Wales’ Stuart Manley and England’s Andrew Johnston. Tournament host Sergio Garcia had a 74.

Associated Press