By: Max Bechtoldt
Ayaka Furue remains out front at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions at the end of the first round, thanks to her record setting -7 65 score.
There is a host of challengers just behind Furue though, led by past champion Gaby Lopez and the young Swede Maja Stark (pictured) just two strokes back at -5. Stark, looking for her second career win on the LPGA Tour, had just 27 putts, making up for a so-so day ball-striking.
Danielle Kang, Brooke Henderson and Lydia Ko are trying to bounce back after tough seasons and get a good result early in the year. Past champion Kang is sitting at -4 after a tough bogey on 18, the result of a poorly hit chip. Henderson and Ko are both sitting four back at -3.
Scoring was relatively strong today at Lake Nona, with Furue setting that single-round record, but the forecast calls for more wind Friday, so be on the lookout for some higher scores.
On the celebrity side of the leaderboard, LPGA legend, 10-time major winner Annika Sorenstäm is leading by two points over MLB player Jeff McNeil. Three-time champion Marty Fish is currently T5 six points back.
The second round starts tomorrow on Golf Channel and Peacock at 1:00 ET.
