HAINAN ISLAND, China – Heavy rain washed out play Friday in the Blue Bay LPGA, forcing tour officials to cut the inaugural tournament from 72 to 54 holes.

Jessica Korda topped the leaderboard after the first round at 6-under 66. The 21-year-old American had yet to start the second round when play was called off.

Michelle Wie and Chinese star Shanshan Feng were a stroke back long with American Brittany Lang, South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, England’s Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Germany’s Caroline Masson.

The start of play was delayed 2 1/2 hours and the first group was only able to complete six holes before play was suspended at 12:19 p.m. Play was called off for the day at 2:30 p.m.

The final two groups were unable to start play.

“The course actually held a ton of water because we even got a ton of rain before we even started this morning,” said Austin Earst, who has 2 under through six holes to reach 3 under. “But you couldn’t really tell. I kept being aggressive because it was a little soft around the greens.

“I have no idea what kind of drainage they have here, but it’s obviously really good. We had to of had at least two inches. The greens were getting pretty wet once they called play.”

The tournament is the fourth stop on the six-tournament Asian Swing. The LPGA Taiwan Championship is next week, followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – Erik Compton is happy with where he is in golf, and he’s not referring to his 5-under 65 on Thursday for a share of the lead in the McGladrey Classic.

A return to Sea Island provides an occasion to take stock of how far he has come in the last 13 years, and what Compton refers to as the “hurdles” he didn’t anticipate.

There’s a medical term for these hurdles. It’s called a second heart transplant.

“I’m almost 35 years old. I’ve had a good career in golf, really,” he said. “Even though I’ve had some time off, I’ve been able to support myself and have a good life.”

Compton remarkably earned a PGA Tour card just four years after he drove himself to the hospital while suffering a heart attack, dodging death until he received a second transplant. He now is in his fourth straight season on golf’s toughest circuit, and he has shown steady improvement.

The next step is to win, and Compton has been around long enough not to get overly excited about a good start.

He opened with a pair of birdies in the morning chill on the Seaside Course at Sea Island, dropped only one shot and joined Sea Island resident Brian Harman, Michael Thompson and Will MacKenzie in the lead.

Chesson Hadley was among six players one shot behind. More than half of the field was at par or better on a gentle day for scoring.

“I expect I should win this year. That’s a goal of mine,” Compton said. “It’s always been a goal, but I think every time I get on the course it becomes more of a realistic expectation.”

Compton first played Sea Island when he competed in the SEC Championship while at Georgia in 2001. A few months later, Compton played in the Walker Cup at nearby Ocean Forest.

The first hurdle when he turned pro was realizing that “everybody out here is really, really, really, really good.” The more serious hurdle was his heart.

Compton had his first transplant when he 12 because of cardiomyopathy, an enlarging of the heart that hinders its ability to pump blood. He had his second in 2008 and ended that year by making the cut in the final PGA Tour event.

His story never gets old, and Compton is happy to tell it, especially if that means bringing attention to the “Donate Life America” campaign. He prefers to look ahead, at the next shot, the next tournament, trying to get the most he can out of his game, just like the guys he is trying to beat.

Compton has reached the FedEx Cup playoff the last two seasons and advanced to the third round at the BMW Championship last month. In the short offseason, he spent more time in the gym trying to get stronger at the recommendation of former Miami Heat guard Ray Allen.

“I went to the gym with him a couple of times and played him for some money games in Miami,” Compton said. “He was just trying to motivate me to get in better shape. So I worked out a little bit. And then just played five or six rounds with him before I went back on the road.”

Easy money? Compton smiled.

“I got him five ways one day,” he said without mentioning a dollar amount.

Compton played on that Walker Cup team with 2009 U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover along with Bryce Molder and D.J. Trahan, who both went on to win on the PGA Tour. The Britain & Ireland team featured former world No. 1 Luke Donald and Graeme McDowell, the U.S. Open champion at Pebble Beach.

Compton’s hopes were not much different from theirs – turn pro, win tournaments.

“I think when I was younger, I had some unrealistic expectations,” he said. “I knew I was a good player. I obviously had some hurdles that I had to deal with in front of me, which I didn’t see coming. I didn’t know I was going to have to deal with that.”

What’s real to him now is being a PGA Tour regular. He’s going to the Masters next year for the first time, courtesy of his runner-up finish in the U.S. Open. That remains his biggest highlight in golf.

What’s next? He’s curious to find out. Compton is learning not to swing so hard to take advantage of his putting stroke.

“I just want to get the ball in play and hit on the green and see where I can go,” he said. “And that’s difficult to do in four days, and it’s proven difficult for a lot of guys who have never won on tour who have great careers. I happen to be one of those guys right now, and I feel like if I can do the things like I did today and get out of my own way, there’s no reason I shouldn’t continue to progress in this game.”

Canadians Adam Hadwin and Roger Sloan opened with even-par 70s and are tied for 59th after the opening round. The other Canadian in the field is Nick Taylor. He carded a 3-over 73 Thursday and is tied for 112th.

Carlsbad, Calif. – adidas Golf has announced the release of the new tour360 x footwear collection, the next generation of the popular tour360 franchise. The collection features clean, streamlined designs incorporating iconic 360WRAP technology for an aesthetically pleasing, tour performance golf shoe with outstanding comfort for all golfers.

To construct a lightweight golf shoe with increased stability without the sacrifice of comfort, designers have combined a microfiber leather upper with climaproof technology and a new, nine-cleat thintech TPU outsole featuring patented CenTraXion technology.

The all-new outsole of the tour360 x was designed to increase surface area contact and stability throughout the swing while maintaining green-friendliness, which was accomplished by placing low-profile stealth cleats on a new TPU outsole featuring a distinctive ‘x’ pattern on the outsole.

Within the re-engineered outsole, designers strategically sculpted the TPU to reduce weight while providing increased flexibility and stability where it’s needed most – on the swingplane. For added comfort, an ultra-soft EVA foam was added throughout the midsole.

“The tour360 x is the latest in a line of unbelievably successful tour360 products,” said Masun Denison, Director of Global Footwear Product Marketing at adidas Golf. “While the new model takes design cues from 360 models of the past, we’ve advanced the line by incorporating new materials and technologies to reduce weight, add flexibility and provide increased comfort.”

Also available is the tour360 x Boa®, highlighted by Boa Technology’s most-advanced Closure System. Featuring the revolutionary Boa IP-1 dial on the center of the tongue of the tour360 x, the Boa Closure System enables fast and easy micro-adjustability for a precisely customizable and comfortable fit.

The tour360 x will be offered in three colourways, available at retail starting November 1, 2014. Available February 2015, the tour360 x Boa will be offered in two colourways.

For more information or to view the entire tour360 x and tour360 x Boa® collections, visit adidasgolf.ca.

PGA Tour Canada’s second season in 2014 was highlighted by strong competition and significant growth, with the schedule increasing from nine to 12 events throughout Canada, along with a major increase in charitable contributions.

Competitive highlights ranged from Order of Merit winner Joel Dahmen’s record-setting season, Brady Schnell’s stellar round of 59 and Canadian Ryan Williams capturing the season-ending TOUR Championship of Canada presented by Freedom 55 Financial.

Achievements off the course included a significant 72 percent increase in charitable contributions by PGA Tour Canada events. Media exposure for PGA Tour Canada grew as well, with a 27 percent increase in television ratings for the Tour’s weekly television show and a 305 percent increase in social media engagement.

Some of the key highlights from the past season are listed below.

WHO EARNED WEB.COM TOUR STATUS:

In addition to The Five, players 6-10 on the Order of Merit earned exemptions into the final stage of Web.com Tour Q-School: No. 6 Ryan Williams (Vancouver, BC), No. 7 Nate McCoy (Wes Des Moines, IA), No. 8 Josh Persons (Fargo, ND), No. 9 Wes Homan (Cincinnati, OH), No. 10 Mark Silvers (Savannah, GA).

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE BY 72%

Charitable donations by PGA Tour Canada events increased dramatically this season, rising to a total of $353,500 in 2014. As with every PGA Tour event, the goal of every tournament on PGA Tour Canada is to make an impact in the community and make charity the leading money winner each week.

COURSE STATISTICS:

• Toughest Courses:   1 – Pine Ridge GC (+1.775 average over par)
  2 – Whitewater GC (+0.419)
  3 – The Lakes GC (+0.211)
• Toughest Holes:       1 – Pine Ridge GC / Par-3 9^th (3.522)
  2 – Hylands GC / Par-4 2^nd (4.471)
  3 – Loyalist G&CC / Par-3 11^th (3.380)

MEMORABLE SHOTS FROM THE 2014 SEASON:

Schnell joins the 59 Club – Milford, IA’s Brady Schnell joined golf’s most exclusive club, holing a 122-yard approach on the final hole to shoot a 13-under 59 at Sirocco Golf Club at the ATB Financial Classic. Schnell finished birdie-birdie-eagle.

Dahmen’s bunker blast – Order of Merit winner Joel Dahmen’s first win at the PC Financial Open was partially thanks to a 232-yard second shot from a fairway bunker at the par-5 72^nd hole, which found the green and led to a birdie and a one-shot win.

Homan makes birdie for the win – Cincinnati, Ohio’s Wes Homan earned his first PGA Tour Canada win with a dramatic birdie on the 72^nd hole at the Staal Foundation Open pres. by Tbaytel, holing a 10-footer for birdie to win by one over England’s Greg Eason.

Machtaler’s birdie bomb gives him win – Summerland, BC’s Greg Machtaler capped off a 9-under 62 in the final round of the Forces & Families Open in style, holing a 70-foot birdie putt on the 72^nd hole that was eventually the difference in a one-shot win.

Double eagles land in ’14 – After zero double eagles were recorded during PGA Tour Canada’s inaugural season, three were recorded in 2014. Logan, UT’s Devin Daniels made the first with a 3-hybrid from 242 yards at the Bayview Place Island Savings Open pres. by Times Colonist on the par-5 12^th at Uplands Golf Club. Los Angeles, CA’s Bryan Bergna’s 210-yard 6-iron netted him an Albatross on the par-5 3^rd at Whitewater Golf Club for the Staal Foundation Open pres. by Tbaytel, and Stephane Dubois of Brantford, ON holed a 7-iron from 182 yards on the par-5 8^th at Hylands Golf Club during the Forces & Families Open.

There were also eight holes-in-one during the 2014 season. Two events, the ATB Financial Classic and The Wildfire Invitational presented by PC Financial, saw multiple holes-in-one during tournament week.

TOP 60 RETAIN EXEMPT STATUS:

The top 60 on the 2014 Order of Merit retain exempt status for the 2015 season. Below is a breakdown of the top 60 by country and age.

By country:

United States – 38
Canada – 17
England – 2
Argentina – 1
Australia – 1
Sweden – 1

By age:

18-24 – 16
25-30 – 35
31-36 – 8
37+ – 1

Oakville, Ont. (Golf Canada Foundation) – The Golf Canada Foundation has announced the 2014 scholarship recipients for their Canadian University/College Support Program.

A total of $66,000 in scholarships has been awarded by the Golf Canada Foundation in 2014 to 17 scholar-athletes this year.

This year marked the introduction of a new scholarship offered by the Golf Canada Foundation. The Choquette Family Foundation, a private foundation whose purpose is to receive and maintain funds to be used in the funding of scholarship programs for individuals pursuing post-secondary education, funded four scholarships for student golfers in strong academic standing who best exemplify the ideals of global fellowship. Daniel Cluney of Corner Brook, Nfld. (Holland College), Krysta Schaus of Fredericton, N.B. (Erskine College), Bruce Tomie of Bedford, N.S. (University of Victoria) and Jesse Teron of Red Deer, Alta. (University of Victoria) each received one of four Choquette Family Foundation Scholarships valued at $5,000 apiece.

The ClubLink Scholarships of Excellence were awarded to two students studying in British Columbia who have outstanding records in both academics and golf. This year’s recipients are Trent Abraham of Burlington, Ont. (University of British Columbia) and Brianna Carrels of Lethbridge, Alta. (University of Victoria). Each student receives $5,000 towards their studies.

Brynn Tomie of Bedford, N.S., and Myles Creighton of Digby, N.S., student-athletes at the University of Victoria and Radford University respectively, each received the Connor/Spafford Scholarship award and $5,000 each. These scholarships are eligible to students from Atlantic Canada, with an emphasis on Nova Scotia residents.

The Geordie Hilton Academic Scholarship award, presented to students entering their second year of business studies or beyond, was given to Team Canada Development Squad member Valérie Tanguay of St-Hyacinthe, Que., a standout golfer at the University of Oklahoma.

Russell Bowie of Mississauga, Ont. (Queen’s University) and Jack Wood of Banff, Alta. (University of British Columbia) each received a Canadian Seniors’ Golf Association (CSGA) scholarship valued at $3,000, while Justin Shanks of Sussex Corner, N.B. (Holland College) was presented with the John Powell Memorial Scholarship (valued at $3,000) in honour of John Powell, a former Executive Director of the CSGA who passed away in 2011.

The Marlene Streit Golf Scholarship awards, valued at $3,000, are presented to standout Canadian female golf­ers attending Canadian universities and colleges. This year the awards were given to Rachel Cormier of Rothesay, N.B. (University of New Brunswick) and Ana Peric of Etobicoke, Ont. (University of Toronto).

Caroline Ciot of Brossard, Que., (Université de Montréal) and Kurtis Campbell of St-Lazare, Que. (Lincoln Memorial University) captured the Suzanne Beauregard Scholarship ($2,000 each). Heather Wogden of Barrie, Ont. (Queen’s University) was awarded the William Kucey Scholarship ($2,000).

This year’s selection of scholarship recipients reflects a wide range of scholastic backgrounds, including business, medicine, physics, engineering and social sciences, as well as kinesiology and biology studies. The impressive range of educational programs reinforces the Golf Canada Foundation’s commitment to supporting our future leaders and providing them with opportunities to study and stay in Canada.

“We are extremely proud to support young Canadians in their pursuit of academic and golfing excellence,” said Martin Barnard, CEO of the Golf Canada Foundation. “Supporting collegiate golf is an important part of the Foundation’s mission to support and promote participation in the game.”

The Golf Canada Foundation supports Canadian student golfers and the development of Canadian university and college golf programs. Its mandate is to raise and grant funds for the advancement of golf across the country.

Since 1982, the Golf Canada Foundation has awarded over $2.5 million in scholarships to promising young golfers, landscape architects and turf grass scientists. The scholarship program has been funded through generous donations from corporations, golf clubs, associations and individual friends of golf.

In 2004, the Golf Canada Foundation began a program of granting funds to universities and colleges across Canada to enhance the institutions’ golf programs and competitive golf opportunities. The Golf Canada Foundation believes golf is a valuable part of Canadian society and strives to elevate golf programs to help them become recognized as a core sport of Canadian Intercollegiate Sport (CIS).

The Golf Canada Foundation is the leading source for golf philanthropy in Canada. The Foundation’s mission is to support and promote programs that increase participation in golf by engaging players of all ages and abilities across Canada. For more information on the Golf Canada Foundation, visit www.golfcanadafoundation.com.

ST. SIMONS ISLAND, Ga. – The PGA of America president referred to Ian Poulter as a little girl on two social media accounts Thursday evening for his comments on Nick Faldo and Tom Watson as Ryder Cup captains.

Faldo, with six majors regarded as Britain’s greatest player, was captain of the last European team that lost the Ryder Cup in 2008. Watson, who has five British Open titles among his eight majors, was captain of the U.S. team that lost at Gleneagles last month.

Poulter, a European stalwart with a 12-4-2 record in the Ryder Cup, was critical of both in his book, “No Limits,” which was released this week.

PGA President Ted Bishop was with Faldo on Thursday at The Greenbrier for the “Faldo Series” junior program when he tweeted to Poulter, “Faldo’s record stands by itself. Six majors and all-time RC points. Yours vs. His? Lil Girl.”

In a separate posting on his Facebook page, Bishop lamented that athletes who had “lesser records or accomplishments in a sport never criticized the icons.” He mentioned Watson’s eight majors and 10-3-1 record in the Ryder Cup, and Faldo’s six majors and record with most Ryder Cup points in history getting “bashed” by Poulter.

“Really? Sounds like a little school girl squealing during recess. C’MON MAN!”

The PGA of America said Bishop “realized that his post was inappropriate and promptly removed it.”

Bishop said in an email Thursday night to The Associated Press, “Obviously I could have selected some different ways to express my thoughts on Poulter’s remarks. Golf had always been a sport where respect was shown to its icons. That seems to have gone by the wayside.”

Poulter had tweeted before leaving for China, “I guess we can only have opinions if you won a major or 6.” He was not aware of Bishop’s tweet until he landed and was inundated with messages.

Poulter said in a brief telephone interview that he was disappointed in Bishop’s tweet. He later released a statement to Golf Channel.

“Is being called a `lil girl’ meant to be derogatory or a put down?” Poulter said in the statement. “That’s pretty shocking and disappointing, especially coming from the leader of the PGA of America. No further comment.”

Watson benched Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley for both sessions on Saturday at the Ryder Cup as the Americans fell behind. He also played Webb Simpson, one of his captain’s picks, only once. Europe won 16 1/2-11 1/2, its eighth win in the last 10 Ryder Cups.

Mickelson indirectly criticized Watson in the closing press conference by saying the Americans had strayed from a winning formula and there was no room for player input under Watson’s captaincy. Watson later wrote an “open letter” accepting responsibility for his style.

Poulter in his book said that Watson’s decision-making “completely baffles me.” He was referring to benching Mickelson and Keegan Bradley on Saturday.

Faldo stirred up the European team on Friday when he said during his Golf Channel commentary that Sergio Garcia was “useless” in 2008 during the European loss at Valhalla and that he had a “bad attitude.” Faldo later explained in an interview with the AP that Garcia has emotional and physical problems and at one point told Faldo he didn’t want to play.

“Faldo has lost a lot of respect from players because of what he said,” Poulter said in his book. He noted that it was Europe’s only loss in the last 15 years and Faldo was the captain. “So who’s useless? I think Faldo might need to have a little look in the mirror.”

Poulter was a captain’s pick that year.

Bishop’s two-year term as president expires next month at the PGA annual meeting. Bishop chose Watson as the Ryder Cup captain – at 65, the oldest in Ryder Cup history. He recently announced a task force to help solve America’s recent losing streak in the Ryder Cup.

The Nova Scotia Golf Association (NSGA) has announced their 2014 NSGA Player of the Year Award winners.

The NSGA Player of the Year (POY) is a ranking system that assigns points to players from their finishes in various tournaments throughout the golfing year. It is designed to promote the development of golfers in Nova Scotia through a points system based on their competitive accomplishments. Player of the Year Awards will handed out during the NSGA Annual General Meeting that takes place Sunday, October 26, 2014 at the Glen Arbour Golf Club.

After a long summer battle, Aaron Nickerson from River Hills Golf Club topped Ashburn’s Glenn Robinson to win the 2014 Men’s NSGA Player of the Year. Nickerson finished the year with a total of 219 points narrowly defeating Robinson by 19 points. Nickerson ended the season with 5 top five finishes, including wins at the Jack Frost and Greenwood Classic.

Oakfield’s Ruth Maxwell’s return to competitive golf in Nova Scotia was impressive as she dominated the 2014 Women’s Player of the Year. Highlights of her season included a first place finish in the NSGA Senior and the Oakfield Club Championship. She was 5^th overall at the Canadian Women’s Senior Championship and captured the Canadian Women’s Super Senior Championship title in Sherbrooke, Que.

2014 MJT Junior Player of the Year 

Ashburn’s Myles Creighton completed his impressive junior career in style after dominating the field at the Dartmouth Dodge Junior Championship in July where he won easily by a total of 16 strokes. Myles then went on to win CN Future Links Atlantic Championship, MJT Paragon, CJGA Oakfield and finished third at the Subway and Brightwood Invitationals. He also tied for 22nd at the Canadian Junior Boy’s Championship. This is Myles 4^th time winning the MJT Junior Player of the Year.

Allison Chandler narrowly beat out Heather McLean for the 2014 MJT Player of the Year. Chandler finished the season with a total of 335 points while Heather McLean ended with a total of 332. Allsion came in second at the 2014 NSGA Junior Championship after losing in a playoff to last year’s Junior Girls Player of the Year winner, Meghan McLean. She won the CJGA Oakfield and the Brightwood Invitationals, earned a second place finish at the Ashburn Invitational and 3^rd place honours at the MJT Paragon. The highlight of her season came at the 2014 Canadian Junior Girl’s Championship, where she finished tied for 16th and 6^th overall in the Juvenile competition.

Junior Zone Player of the Year

In addition to the Player of the Year, the NSGA presents awards to the junior player of the year in each of 9 Regional zones. The following golfers have been chosen as 2014 Zone Player of the Year:

Greatest Reduction in Handicap

Each year the NSGA recognizes the Greatest Reduction in Handicap for the golf season for players throughout the province. Congratulations to the following individuals who achieved the Greatest Reduction in handicaps for male and female players in each of the Junior, Amateur and Senior divisions.

PERTH, Australia – Thorbjorn Olesen of Denmark and John Wade of Australia shot course-record 8-under 64s at the Lake Karrinyup Country Club to share the lead after the first round of the Perth International on Thursday.

Olesen teed off in an afternoon group and had four birdies on each of the front and back nines to equal the mark that Wade, a 46-year-old assistant pro at the Commonwealth Golf Club in Victoria state, set in the morning.

“I played really, really well the front nine. I gave myself a lot of chances there,” Olesen said. “Especially my short game was amazing out there. My chipping and bunker shots were really, really good.

“The greens are perfect, layout is great.”

Wade could barely believe his opening round, after qualifying earlier in the week for the jointly sanctioned European Tour and Australasian Tour event.

“I’ve really been struggling recently, even in the lead-up,” he said. “This is all new to me. I’ve just got to go out with the same attitude tomorrow.”

Michael Sim of Australia, Peter Whiteford of Scotland, Kim Shi-wan of South Korea, and Tom Lewis of England were tied for third at 6 under.

In a group a stroke further back were Australians Brett Rumford, Matthew Griffin and Jason Scrivener, David Drysdale of Scotland, Mark Foster of England, Julien Quesne of France and Magnus Carlsson of Sweden.

Charl Schwartzel sank a long putt on his last hole to finish with a 68 and a share of 14th spot.

American Jason Dufner, the 2013 U.S. PGA champion, had a 70 in his first competitive round in almost three months since withdrawing from the U.S. PGA Championship with a neck injury.

Dufner was a stroke ahead of Victor Dubuisson, who mixed four birdies with three bogeys in a 71, and two clear of defending champion Jin Jeong of South Korea.

HAINAN ISLAND, China – Jessica Korda birdied five of the first eight holes Thursday and finished with a 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead in the Blue Bay LPGA.

“It was really nice,” Korda said. “I was hitting the ball pretty good and then I made some long putts, as well, off the green. I guess the putter was just hot on the front nine, so I took advantage of it.”

The 21-year-old American, a two-time winner this season, birdied the first three holes and added birdies on No. 6, 8 and 14 in her bogey-free round in the inaugural event at Jian Lake Blue Bay.

“It’s amazing here,” Korda said. “It’s the Hawaii of China. The course is in great shape.”

She made a 65-foot par putt on the par-4 10th.

“Highlight was No. 10,” Korda said. “Hit my drive way out right. Didn’t hit in the fairway. Then didn’t have the right club and the wind took it and I made the putt from across the whole green, from the back of the green to the front of the green.”

Michelle Wie and Chinese star Shanshan Feng were a stroke back long with American Brittany Lang, South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace, England’s Jodi Ewart-Shadoff and Germany’s Caroline Masson.

Wie tied for fifth last week in South Korea in her first start since withdrawing from Evian in September after reinjuring a stress reaction in her right hand.

“It was fun, because I feel like the ball kind of sits up with this type of grass and I felt like I was hitting flop shots all day,” Wie said. “It was kind of fun. I was just blasting them away. Definitely, you have to hit to the right parts.”

Wie made an 8-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole that nearly circled the cup before dropping.

“It felt really good. I missed a short one for birdie on 15,” Wie said. “Missed a couple of birdie chances coming in. It always feels good when the ball kind of circles the hole 360 and ends up going in. It was a fun round today.”

Pace is coming off a playoff victory in Ladies European Tour’s South African Women’s Open.

Third-ranked Lydia Ko had a 69.

Danielle Kang won a Buick LaCrosse with a hole-in-one on the 155-yard 17th. It was her second ace in competition this season, third overall this year and seventh in her life. She shot 68.

“I was pretty pumped,” Kang said. “My caddie had to tell me to calm down.”

Top-ranked Stacy Lewis and No. 2 Inbee Park are skipping the tournament.

Park will take the No. 1 spot from Lewis on Monday. Lewis has held the top position for 21 weeks. She moved to No. 1 on June 2 following her victory in the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Before that, Park was No. 1 for 59 weeks.

The tournament is the fourth stop on the six-tournament Asian Swing. The LPGA Taiwan Championship is next week, followed by the Mizuno Classic in Japan.

MELBOURNE, Australia – Local golfer Todd Sinnott shot a 5-under 67 Thursday to take a one-shot lead over 2012 champion Guan Tianlang of China after the first round of the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at Royal Melbourne.

The 20-year-old Sinnott plays on the pennants team for Metropolitan, another sand-belt course nearby.

Two strokes behind Sinnott and tied for third with 69s were Lee Chieh-po of Taiwan, Australian Antonio Murdaca and Tawan Phongphun of Thailand.

Australian amateur champion Ryan Ruffels had a 71 while Yang Gunn, the U.S. Amateur champion from South Korea, was well back after an 81.

The Asia-Pacific winner gets a spot in the U.S. Masters next year and is exempt into the final stage of qualifying for the British Open.

“There’s a long way to go yet,” Sinnott said after taking advantage of the calm morning conditions on Royal Melbourne’s composite layout.

“This is a course where you need to contain yourself,” he said after making birdie on his last two holes. “It’s all about positioning the ball. You can make double bogey here as quickly as you can make a birdie by attacking.”

Guan agreed.

“I felt very comfortable today, made a lot of good putts and played pretty smart,” he said. “But I think I cannot be too aggressive on this course, just play safe and then try to make a couple birdies.”

It’s the first time the 72-hole tournament, which has a field this year of 115, has been held outside Asia since it began in 2009.

Lee Chang-woo, who won the 2013 event in China at Nanshan International Golf Club, is not competing after turning professional.

New Zealand‘s James Beale, the reigning Canadian Men’s Amateur champion, is tied for 8th after an opening-round 71.

On Thursday, Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club in Hong Kong was confirmed as host venue for the seventh Asia-Pacific Amateur. It will be played Oct. 1-4, 2015.