U.S. Women's Open Thursday Morning: Inbee Park Sets the Pace

Inbee Park began her quest for a 3rd consecutive LPGA major in fine form this morning, firing a 6-birdie 67 at Sebonack to take the early lead in the U.S. Women's Open.  At the moment, the world #1 leads Caroline Hedwall by 1 and Karine Icher, Natalie Gulbis, and Ryann O'Toole by 3, but the lowest scores in the clubhouse to date besides Park's are 71s by Stacy Lewis, Meena Lee, Kyung Kim, and Lindy Duncan.

[Update 1 (12:51 pm):  Other solid morning scores thus far:  Yueer Feng at E, Nelly Korda at +1, Doris Chen and Rachel Rohanna (who eagled the par-5 8th) at +2.]

[Update 2 (12:55 pm):  Meanwhile, Michelle Wie leads the field in driving distance but is +9 through 17.]

[Update 3 (12:57 pm):  Others with disappointing 1st rounds:  Suzann Pettersen (76), Ayako Uehara (75), Ai Miyazato (+4 through 17).]

[Update 4 (12:58 pm):  Karrie Webb is fighting back from a stretch in which she made 5 bogeys in 6 holes (including 4 in a row!)--she's back to +1 with the short 9th to go.]

[Update 5 (1:02 pm):  Solid 73 from former champion Eun-Hee Ji.]

[Update 6 (1:08 pm):  Wie fights back for an 80 (don't laugh--she was +11 through 14 after opening with a quad on the 10th).  Only 1 shot worse than Vicky Hurst.]

[Update 7 (1:14 pm):  75 for Lexi Thompson and 76 for Ai Miyazato.  33 putts is what did Ai-sama in, not to mention going +3 on the par 3s.  Ball-striking largely looks to be there, so I expect better things tomorrow for her.]

[Update 8 (1:16 pm):  How much does putting matter?  Inbee Park had 25 of 'em today!  I'd like to see anyone beat that!]

[Update 9 (1:18 pm):  More scores:  Karrie Webb (73), Emily Tubert (74), Tiffany Lua (76), Jenny Shin, Belen Mozo, and Carly Booth (78).]

[Update 10 (1:24 pm):  Jodi Ewart Shadoff posts 1st 70 of the day, thanks to 3 birdies in her last 4 holes.  The one she missed was on the par-5 8th!]

[Update 11 (1:25 pm):  Mariajo Uribe matches her with walkoff birdie on par-5 18th.]

[Update 12 (1:29 pm):  Hedwall has made 3 birdies in her last 5 holes to catch Inbee at -5.  1 short par 4 left to take the 1st-round lead!]

[Update 13 (1:31 pm):  Defending champion Na Yeon Choi in with good scrambling 71--10 greens in regulation but only 26 putts.]