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MARATHON CLASSIC

SYLVANIA

Hyo Joo Kim bogeyed her final hole Thursday for a 5-under 66 and a share of the Marathon Classic lead with fellow South Korean player Mirim Lee and Japan’s Haru Nomura.

Celebrating her 21st birthday, Kim had four birdies in a six-hole stretch on her second nine at rain-softened Highland Meadows.

“Last night, it was raining, so it’s little bit more softer green,” Kim said through a translator. “I hit good shots, a lot of good shots, good drives, good putts, but on the last hole I missed a putt. ... “Best part of game was tee shot, which is driver shot and iron shot. I’m not complaining about any shot today.”

She won the season-opening event in the Bahamas for her third career title.

“It was long time ago, so I forgot kind of what feel it was,” Kim said.

Nomura won the Women’s Australian Open in February for her first LPGA Tour title and took the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in April in California.

“Today par-putter is good,” Nomura said. “Shots good, second numbers, and everything smooth.”

Ariya Jutanugarn, the long-hitting Thai player who won three straight events in May, was a stroke back at 67 along with American Kelly Shon and France’s Celine Herbin.

“I played pretty good,” Jutanugarn said. “My tee shot was good and I make some putts.”

Top-ranked Lydia Ko birdied her final two holes to join in the group at 68.

BARBASOL CHAMPIONSHIP

OPELIKA, ALA.

Angel Cabrera and Jhonattan Vegas dominated the par-5 holes in steamy conditions to share the Barbasol Championship.

The 46-year-old Cabrera, from Argentina, eagled the par-5 13th on Grand National’s Lake Course, holing a 60-footer from the fringe, and birdied the two other par 5s in a bogey-free 6-under 65.

Cabrera, 2007 U.S. Open champion and 2009 Masters winner, is one of two major champions in the field at the PGA Tour event played opposite the British Open.

Vegas, from Venezuela, also eagled the 13th — making a 20-footer — and birdied the other par 5s in a bogey-free round. He won the 2011 Bob Hope Classic for his lone tour title.

Former Auburn player Blayne Barber was a stroke back at 66 along with Martin Laird, Ben Crane, Shawn Stefani, Matt Bettencourt, Michael Kim and Lucas Lee. Former Auburn player Michael Johnson shot a 67 in his pro debut.

Associated Press