– Morgan Pressel wasn’t thrilled with the first 16 holes she played Friday in the first round of the ShopRite LPGA Classic. Her final two holes really improved her demeanor.

A birdie-eagle finish gave her a 5-under 66, good enough to top the leaderboard in near-perfect conditions on Stockton Seaview’s Bay Course.

“I really didn’t put myself in a whole lot of trouble,” Pressel said. “I wouldn’t say that I certainly had the best game out there. I guess I just made a few mistakes, and I didn’t play all that well, but then I came down birdieing eighth and eagling the last hole. That definitely helps.

“I only made two bogeys. They weren’t great bogeys by any means. I shouldn’t have really made them, but hopefully I can eliminate those kinds of mistakes and can keep giving myself opportunities.”

The 27-year-old Pressel, seeking her first LPGA Tour win since 2008, held the advantage over Anna Nordqvist of Sweden, Alena Sharp of Canada, rookie Min Lee of Taiwan and American Ryann O’Toole.

Brooke Henderson, the 17-year-old Canadian playing on a sponsor exemption, was among nine players at 68. The group included Women’s British Open champion Mo Martin, Catriona Matthew and Gerina Piller.

Pressel, ninth on the money list with more than $443,000, hit a wedge close to set up a birdie on the par-4 eighth and hit a 5-hybrid from 225 yards to 3 feet for the closing eagle on the par-5 ninth.

“I didn’t honestly know where it was,” Pressel said about her second shot at No. 9. “I thought it might be short of the green. I couldn’t see it and nobody clapped so I had no idea. Then we came up far enough over the hill to where we could see it and I was like, `Oh, it’s right next to the hole. OK, I’ll take it.'”

Pressel became the youngest player to win a major in the 2007 Kraft Nabisco at 18 years, 10 months and 9 days old. But she has won just one other victory on the tour, the 2008 Kapalua LPGA Classic.

She came close to breaking that drought last month at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic in California, but lost on the second hole of a playoff with top-ranked Lydia Ko.

Nordqvist, who had a streak of four top-10 finishes earlier this season, birdied her final hole, the par-5 ninth, with a 4-foot putt.

“Morgan is a very good player,” Nordqvist said. “Her short game is amazing, and she’s a very feisty player. Once she gets hot, she gets really hot. I think she is riding some confidence. She’s been playing great.”

Lee, who entered this week coming off three straight missed cuts, had an eagle and three birdies on the front nine to make the turn at 5 under.

O’Toole birdied her last two holes to get to 4 under, and Sharp’s round was highlighted by an eagle.

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis, the tournament winner in 2012 and 2014, chipped in for eagle at No. 9, her last hole, and finished with a 72.

Michelle Wie had a 74. The U.S. Women’s Open champion is playing after withdrawing from the Kingsmill Championship two weeks ago because of a left hip injury. She went through a series of evaluations and MRIs and was diagnosed with bursitis.

Calgary (Golf Canada) – For the second consecutive year, Michelle Piyapattra has won the season-opening event on the Canadian Women’s Tour. The Corona, California native fired a final round 3-under par 69 and tournament total 4-under par 140 at the Glencoe Golf and Country Club in Calgary to claim her second career Canadian Women’s Tour victory.

With the victory, Piyapattra earns the $10,000 winner’s cheque as well as the coveted exemption into the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open, August 17-23 at The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C.

Piyapattra, who began the final round at 1-under par in the second last group, carded three birdies in a bogey free round to win by two shots over opening round co-leader Seul-Ki Park of Northbrook, Illinois.

In 2014, playing as an amateur, Piyapattra won the Canadian Women’s Tour stop at Morningstar Golf Club in Parksville, B.C. in a playoff, eventually making her pro debut at the 2014 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open at the London Hunt and Country Club in London, Ont.

“I played about [the] same as yesterday, but near the end my putts we’re going in; really a lot more putts were falling today,” said Piyapattra, a LPGA Symetra Tour regular who was playing in her fifth career Canadian Women’s Tour event. “Last year I won as an amateur so it’s nice to come back and win as a professional and get the exemption into the [Canadian Pacific] Women’s Open.”

Park, who began the day with a share of the lead, shot a final round 2-over 74 and tournamenttotal 1-under 143 to finish alone in second, while Lauren Mielbrecht of Gulf Stream, Florida and Kristen Park of Buena Park, California finished tied for third at even-par 144.

Kirby Dreher of Fort St. John, B.C. finished tied for fifth (1-over 145) to claim low Canadian honours, while Doris Chen of Bradenton, Florida finished tied for eighth (2-over 146) to capture the Low Amateur Award.

The shot of the day Wednesday went to Erica Rivard of Tecumseh, Ont. who used a 9-iron to ace the 140-yard third hole on the Bridges course.

With the victory, Piyapattra vaults to the top of the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Money List as well as the Jocelyne Bourassa Player of the Year Order of Merit.

Only two players (Michelle Piyapattra at 4-under and Suel Ki-Park at 1-under) finished below par for the championship at The Glencoe Golf and Country Club.

The most difficult hole of the championship was the 393-yard par-4, 18th hole (10 birdies, 79 pars, 54 bogeys, 18 double bogeys, 6 other – scoring average 4.60) while the 533-yard, par-5 1^st hole played the easiest (34 birdies, 105 pars, 22 bogeys, 6 double bogeys – scoring average 5.00). Complete course stats are available here.

A total of 84 players including 42 international golfers competed in the season opening Canadian Women’s Tour stop in Calgary.

The next Canadian Women’s Tour event will be contested at the Smiths Falls Golf & Country Club in Smiths Falls, Ont., from June 15-17. The final stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour will be the PGA Women’s Championship of Canada at Burlington Golf & Country Club in Burlington, Ont., from July 20-22.

The winners of each stop on the Canadian Women’s Tour will earn exemptions to compete in the 2015 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Also receiving exemptions will be the top two competitors on the 2015 Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit. To be eligible, participants must play in at least two of the three events on the 2015 schedule.

At season’s end, the five highest ranked players on the Canadian Women’s Tour Order of Merit will be awarded direct entry into the second stage of LPGA Qualifying School.

Click here for complete scores.

For the third time in the tournament’s history, the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open and the stars of the LPGA Tour will return to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in Calgary, Alberta, August 22-28, 2016.

“We are excited to announce the return of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club in 2016,” said Canadian Pacific Women’s Open Tournament Director Brent McLaughlin. “The venue is outstanding; the city of Calgary is a world-class hosting community; and we are confident that Alberta golf fans will once again rally around the LPGA Tour’s return to Western Canada.”

The championship, which typically draws arguably the strongest field on the LPGA Tour, will once again make a significant charitable contribution to the host community through the CP Has Heart campaign.

“CP and our 2,000 Calgary-based employees and their families are thrilled to bring world-class LPGA Tour golf back to our hometown,” said CP’s VP Corporate Affairs Mark Wallace. “In addition to some great golf, we look forward to working with the tournament as we raise funds for pediatric cardiac care and research at Alberta Children’s Hospital.”

The 44^th playing of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will return to the formidable venue which had previously hosted in 1999 and 2009. The 2009 edition of Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship saw Norway’s Suzann Pettersen card a final-round one-under par 70 and tournament-total 269 (15-under) to claim the title. Among those in the five-way tie for second that year was World Golf Hall of Fame member Karrie Webb, who claimed victory in 1999 when Priddis Greens hosted the LPGA Tour for the first time.

“It is an honour to welcome back the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open to Priddis Greens Golf & Country Club, Calgary and the province of Alberta,” said Rod McBride, President of Priddis Greens. “Hosting the CP Women’s Open provides us with another opportunity to showcase our course as one of the premiere golfing experiences in Canada and to further demonstrate Calgary’s love of the game.”

The Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam, B.C., will play host to the 2015 edition of the Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship will be contested August 17-23. First conducted in 1973, Canada’s National Women’s Open Championship has allowed the brightest stars of the LPGA Tour to shine on Canadian soil and inspire the nation’s next generation of female golfers.

Additional information regarding tickets, volunteer opportunities and corporate hospitality for the 2015 or 2016 Canadian Pacific Women’s Open can be found at www.cpwomensopen.com.

BELEK, Turkey – England’s Melissa Reid won the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open on Wednesday, leading wire-to-wire for her fifth career Ladies European Tour victory.

The 27-year-old Reid closed with an even-par 73 at Carya Golf Club for a four-stroke victory over France’s Gwladys Nocera. Reid also won the 2010 tournament at National Golf Club.

Nocera finished with a 71 in the unique Sunday-Wednesday event.

England’s Laura Davies tied for third at 6 under with Scots Kylie Walkerand Sally Watson. The 51-year Davies finished with a 72. Walker also shot 72, and Watson had a 75.

Canadian Amateur Christina Foster of Concord, Ont., has qualified for this year’s U.S. Women’s Open hosted at the Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, Pa., July 9-12.

The 19-year-old stamped her ticket to the major championship with a two-round score of 145 at her sectional qualifier on Monday held at the Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette, Ill. Foster’s score gave her a one shot edge as she beat out the competition to claim one of two spots.

The golfer’s best finish came at the GAO – Women’s Match Play Championship, when she was runner up to Robyn Doig.

Foster joins fellow Canadian Brooke Henderson, as the only Canucks in the field to date. There are sectional qualifiers running until June 15^th.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Minjee Lee shook off a three-putt bogey on her first hole with two finishing pars and won the Kingsmill Championship by two shots Monday, her first victory on the LPGA Tour.

Lee, an 18-year-old Australian, finished at 15-under 269. She surged into the lead on Sunday with a round highlighted by a five-hole stretch that she played in 5 under and returned to the Kingsmill Resort’s River Course on Monday morning with a four-stroke lead.

She three-putted her first hole, the 16th, but rallied with a pair of pars.

So Yeon Ryu started her day with three consecutive birdies and finished second, with Alison Lee another shot back.

Third-round leader Perrine Delacour of France finished fourth after a closing 71.

Canada’s Brooke Henderson tied for 25th at 3 under par.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – France’s Perrine Delacour took advantage of Alison Lee’s late two-hole meltdown to take the third-round lead Saturday in the Kingsmill Championship.

The 21-year-old Delacour birdied three of the final five holes for a 4-under 67. She had an 11-under 202 total on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.

“I think tomorrow I will be nervous because that’s the first time in the lead,” Delacour said. “So, I’m going to be nervous, but I’ll try to do my best and we’ll see after 18 holes.”

She’s comfortable on the River Course.

“It’s good,” said Delacour, winless in 19 career starts in two seasons on the LPGA Tour. “Pretty similar to European golf courses. It’s good for my game.”

After opening a four-stroke lead, the 20-year-old Lee dropped back with a bogey on the par-4 16th and a four-putt double bogey on the par-3 17th. She finished with a 70, leaving her a stroke behind.

“Poor putting. That was a huge mistake,” Lee said. “That first putt, I didn’t think I would leave it that short. The second putt, I thought it would break right to left. I hit a really firm stroke, felt confident, and ended up breaking to the right and I had a poor putt coming back.”

Still a student at UCLA after turning pro in December, Lee tied for fourth in the Kia Classic in March in California and has three top-25 finishes.

“I’m not too disappointed with my round,” Lee said. “Obviously I am disappointed with those two holes, and definitely affects where I am in position going into tomorrow. I mean, one stroke is a lot out here, and unfortunately I lost two strokes on this hole. Just need to go into tomorrow with confidence and remind myself I’m hitting it well and not think about that hole or putt too much.”

Delacour birdied Nos. 14, 16 and 18 to take the lead.

Paula Creamer, So Yeon Ryu and Minjee Lee were 9 under. Creamer shot 66, Ryu 68, and Minjee Lee 69.

“It was kind of a grind,” Minjee Lee said. “I mean, I didn’t really stuff it up and just play amazing golf. I was just kind of in between. I had a good couple birdies and I had good scrambles.”

Lexi Thompson was 8 under after a 67.

Kelly Tan had a 64, the best round of the week, to move into a tie for 11th at 6 under. She had seven birdies in her bogey-free round.

“My putter was just so hot,” Tan said. “I was hitting my iron shots really good, too. This is a great golf course. Tough to really stick the ball really close to the hole, so I mean, I get a lot of 15-, 20- footers and even 10-footers, and I just didn’t seem to miss them.”

Top-ranked Lydia Ko was tied for 20th at 3 under after a 70.

Youngster Brooke Henderson shot a round of 74 today, placing her 12 shots back of Delacour.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – Alison Lee shot a 4-under 67 on Friday to take a two-stroke lead in the LPGA Tour’s Kingsmill Championship.

The 20-year-old Lee, still a student at UCLA after turning pro in December, had a 9-under 133 total on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.

“Anything can happen. This tournament is only halfway over,” Lee said. “I’m going to try my best to stay focused and stay in the game.”

Lee tied for fourth in the Kia Classic in March in California and has three top-25 finishes.

“Coming into today, I felt really confident, especially after my round yesterday,” Lee said. “I was striking the ball well, was putting well and got it rolling on the front nine.”

She birdied the par-4 first to reach 4 under for the day, dropped a stroke on the par-4 sixth, rebounded with a birdie on the par-5 seventh and closed with two pars.

“Too bad on the back,” Lee said. “I started to kind of lose a lot of the focus and a lot of my concentration and I was kind of struggling with my approach shots. Thankfully, I was able to make a lot of good saves and par saves coming down the stretch.”

Australia’s Minjee Lee and France’s Perrine Delacour were tied for second. The 18-year-old Minjee Lee had a 67, and Delacour shot 68.

Minjee Lee turned pro in September after leading Australia to victory in Japan in the Women’s World Amateur Team Championship. She eagled the par-5 third, hitting a 4-iron about 200 yards to 7 feet.

“This is my rookie year and kind of the first time I’ve been in this situation, so it’s going to be a whole new experience,” Minjee Lee said. “My mindset? I just want to have fun with my caddie and play some really good golf. Nothing too serious.”

Delacour eagled No. 7, hitting a 3-wood to 10 feet

“I got a lucky bounce and hit the green in two,” Delacour said.

So Yeon Ryu was 6 under after a 69.

“To be honest, my shot is not that really great,” Ryu said. “But really good thing is when I had a chance I made pretty much everything.”

Suzann Pettersen, Christina Kim, Jing Yan and Catriona Matthew were 5 under. Pettersen shot a 65 for the best round of the day, Kim had a 68, and Yan and Matthew shot 67.

“As far as I know this is a four-day tournament,” Pettersen said. “It’s always nice to get a good start. Played OK yesterday, just didn’t get anything out of my round. Scored well today. Course is in great shape. The greens are really, really good.”

Second-ranked Inbee Park was 3 under after a 67. She won the North Texas Shootout two weeks ago for her second victory of the year.

First-round leader Joanna Klatten followed her opening 65 with a 75 to drop into a tie for 22nd at 2 under.

Top-ranked Lydia Ko and Canadian teen Brooke Henderson also were in the group at 2 under. Ko, a two-time winner this season, and Henderson, playing on a sponsor exemption, each shot 69.

Fellow Canadians Sue Kim, Rebecca Lee-Bentham, Jennifer Kirby and Alena Sharp missed the cut.

Third-ranked No. 3 Stacy Lewis had a 74 to drop to 1 over.

Defending champion Lizette Salas missed the cut with rounds of 74 and 73. Three-time Kingsmill winner Cristie Kerr also dropped out, shooting 73-76.

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. – France’s Joanna Klatten had five birdies in a six-hole stretch and finished with a 6-under 65 on Thursday to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour’s Kingsmill Championship.

Klatten birdied Nos. 3-6 and 8 and closed with a par on No. 9 on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.

“I made a few bombs, which is nice, but it was just solid,” Klatten said. “I’ve been playing pretty good lately. Just struggled with the putting the last few tournaments, but today it was fixed.

“I definitely had luck on my side today. I had good breaks and it feels good. Lately, it felt the other way around, but I knew that it always evens out. Today, it definitely did.”

The 30-year-old former Georgia State player is winless in 27 career events on the LPGA Tour.

“This is one of my favorite courses all year,” Klatten said. “I feel very comfortable here. It suits my eye really well. I think you have an advantage if you’re among the long hitters.”

Morgan Pressel, Alison Lee and Pat Hurst were a stroke back, and So Yeon Ryu, Paula Creamer, Jacqui Concolino and Perrine Delacour followed at 67.

Michelle Wie withdrew because of a hip injury after a 78.

“Regrettably, I need to withdraw today due to a left hip injury that has been bothering me this week,” Wie said on Twitter.

She had a double bogey, six bogeys and one birdie.

Pressel had five birdies in a bogey-free round. Winless since 2008, she has two top-three finishes in her last four events. She was third in the ANA Inspiration and second in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.

“I just played pretty steady out there today,” Pressel said. “I don’t think I hit the ball quite as well as I would’ve liked to, but made a few really good up-and-downs. Made birdie when I had the opportunity. The good up-and-downs certainly were part of the reason why I had no bogeys.”

Lee had seven birdies and two bogeys. The 20-year-old former UCLA star tied fourth in the Kia Classic in March and has three top-25 finishes in her rookie season.

“I was able to grab a couple birdies going down the stretch,” Lee said. “Especially the last four holes – I got three birdies. I’ve been putting it a lot better. That’s what I’ve struggling with the past month, like my putting. But I had a lot of good rolls today.”

The 45-year-old Hurst had a bogey-free round. She won the last of her six LPGA Tour titles in 2009.

“You got to hit the ball well out here,” Hurst said. “It’s all about the angles out here and being on the right side of the fairway and the way you come into the greens. If you’re hitting the ball good, it’s easier to put them in that spot.”

Third-ranked Stacy Lewis opened with a 69, top-ranked Lydia Ko and Canadian teen sensation Brooke Henderson shot 71s, and second-ranked Inbee Park had a 72.

Three-time Kingsmill winner Cristie Kerr had a 73, and defending champion Lizette Salas shot 74.

RYE, N.Y. – Canadian teen Brooke Henderson will play her first LPGA major as a pro in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.

The tournament on Monday announced the 17-year-old Henderson has received a sponsor’s exemption. The major will be played June 11-14 at Westchester Country Club.

Henderson had the 54-hole lead in the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic two weeks ago at Lake Merced in San Francisco. She wound up third. Henderson has played two other events this year and has earned $161,557, which would make her equal to No. 29 on the LPGA money list.

She isn’t an LPGA member because of its minimum age requirement of 18.

Henderson tied for 10th in the U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2 last year as an amateur.