TAIPEI, Taiwan – Top-ranked Inbee Park birdied five of the last seven holes Thursday for an 8-under 64 and a share of the first-round lead in the LPGA Taiwan Championship.

The South Korean star, playing her first round since regaining the No. 1 spot in the world Monday, was tied with China’s Shanshan Feng after her bogey-free round at Miramar.

“I hit the ball really solid all day and, on the back nine, everything seemed to drop,” Park said. “I can’t remember the last time I putted like this. It’s been a really good putting day, so I’m really happy about that.

“I really concentrated on my putting this week and tried to improve a little bit and I practiced a lot on the greens this week. The hard work is paying off, so I’m really happy.”

Feng eagled the par-5 sixth hole and had six birdies in her bogey-free round.

“I think it’s my putting, because my long game is always good,” Feng saiid. “When my putting is on, I always have a chance to win. But when the putting is not doing well, then I’m just like so so.”

South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu, settled for a 66 after playing the first 12 holes in 9 under. She bogeyed the par-3 17th and had a double bogey on the par-5 18th.

“Honestly, 6 under is a good score, but I had a really bad finish,” Ryu said. “So, 6 under is not enough good score to me.”

Taiwan’s Ssu-Chia Cheng, Denmark’s Line Vedel and Japan’s Haru Nomura also shot 66.

Second-ranked Stacy Lewis had a 67, and Michelle Wie topped the group at 68.

Third-ranked Lydia Ko opened with a 69. The New Zealand teenager won the Swinging Skirts World Ladies Masters in December at Miramar.

Taiwan’s Yani Tseng, the winner of the inaugural event in 2011, also shot 69. She won the last of her 15 LPGA Tour titles in March 2012.

Norway’s Suzann Pettersen, the winner the last two years at Sunrise, had a 70.

HAINAN ISLAND, China – South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace won the rain-shortened Blue Bay LPGA on Monday for her first LPGA Tour title and second worldwide victory in nine days.

Four strokes ahead with five holes left when play was suspended Sunday because of darkness, Pace finished off a 5-under 67 for a three-stroke victory over Germany’s Caroline Masson.

The 33-year-old Pace won the South African Women’s Open last week for her ninth Ladies European Tour victory. She’s the second South African-born champion in LPGA Tour history, joining 15-time winner Sally Little. The victory was her third in China, following the LET’s Sanya Ladies Open in 2010 and 2013.

Pace made a 6-foot birdie putt on the par-5 18th to finish at 16-under 200 at Jian Lake Blue Bay.

Masson birdied the final three holes for a 67.

Michelle Wie and Jessica Korda tied for third at 11 under.

Wie finished with a 70. She tied for fifth last week in South Korea in her first start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring her right hand.

Korda, tied for the second-round lead with Pace, closed with a 72.

Rain delayed play for nearly four hours Sunday with the leaders halfway through the round, leading to the Monday finish in the tournament cut from 72 to 54 holes after play was washed out Friday. The start Monday also was delayed by showers.

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

HAINAN ISLAND, China – South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace had a four-stroke lead Sunday in the Blue Bay LPGA when final-round play was suspended because of darkness.

Pace had five holes left when the round was stopped at 6:15 p.m. Rain delayed play for nearly four hours with the leaders halfway through the round, leading to a Monday finish in the tournament cut from 72 to 54 holes after play was washed out Friday.

Tied with American Jessica Korda at 11 under entering the round, the 33-year-old Pace made three front-nine birdies before the delay and holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the par-4 12th.

Pace is seeking her first LPGA Tour title and second victory in eight days after winning a playoff last Sunday in the Ladies European Tour’s South African Women’s Open. She’s also in position for her third victory in China after winning the LET’s Sanya Ladies Open in 2010 and 2013.

Michelle Wie was second, also with five holes left in her second start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring her right hand.

Korda and Germany’s Caroline Masson were tied for third at 10 under. Korda had five holes left, and Masson four. New Zealand’s Lydia Ko was 9 under after a 68. American Danielle Lang also was 9 under with four holes remaining.

China’s Shanshan Feng was in the group at 8 under with five holes left.

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

HAINAN ISLAND, China – American Jessica Korda rebounded from an opening double bogey for a share of the second-round lead Saturday in the Blue Bay LPGA.

Korda made seven birdies in a 14-hole stretch – the last three on Nos. 14-16 – and shot a 5-under 67 to match South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace at 11-under 133 at Jian Lake Blue Bay.

“I got a little frazzled there as I was walking to the first tee box and then obviously didn’t hit a good shot,” Korda said. “I just I tried to forget about it, tried to bring back.”

Pace had seven birdies and a bogey in a 66.

After rain washed out play Friday and forced tour officials to cut the event from 72 to 54 holes, the start of play Saturday was delayed three hours.

“The golf course is draining incredibly well for how much rain we got,” Korda said. “The bunkers are obviously a little wet, but other than that, it’s amazing how well it’s responded to how much dumping it’s gotten.”

Korda, the first-round leader Thursday after a 66, won the season-opening event in the Bahamas in January and took the Mobile Bay LPGA Classic in May in Alabama.

She saved par on the par-5 18th with a 17-foot putt.

“I would say the putt on 18 that I made to save par was definitely good to bring the momentum that I had on the last 17 holes. To bring it in for tomorrow,” Korda said. “So, hopefully, I can just feed off of that.”

Pace, winless on the LPGA Tour, is coming off a playoff victory last week in the Ladies European Tour’s South African Women’s Open.

She chipped in from the fringe for a birdie on No. 12 and also birdied Nos. 14 and 15.

“I played pretty decent,” Pace said. “I made quite a few putts already by that stage and then the putter just started rolling nicely toward the end.”

She won the LET’s Sanya Ladies Open in China in 2010 and 2013.

“Maybe I just like the type of grass. I can read the greens fairly easy,” Pace said. “I think what you see is what you get.”

South Korea’s Chella Choi was 10 under after a 66.

Americans Michelle Wie and Brittany Lang closed with birdies to join China’s Shanshan Feng at 9 under. They shot 68.

Wie is making her second start since withdrawing from the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress reaction in her right hand. She marveled at the course conditions after the heavy rain Friday and Saturday morning.

“It’s pretty amazing how great the golf course drained,” Wie said. “We were like sitting on the ground today while we were waiting and it was absolutely dry. It was so dry. It’s crazy. It’s pretty phenomenal what they did with the bunkers and how they got the course ready in that short of time. I think any other course if we got that much rain we’d be done for the week. So it’s pretty phenomenal.”

Feng won the LPGA Malaysia two weeks ago for her fourth LPGA Tour title and is seeking her second victory in China after winning the Reignwood LPGA last year in Beijing.

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.

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.

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.

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.  – Stacy Lewis and Inbee Park are not in the field for this week’s Blue Bay LPGA in China, but when the Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings are released Monday, Park will overtake Lewis for the No. 1 spot.

Heading into the week, Lewis and Park were in a statistical dead heat for the top spot: Lewis’ official average was 11.0444, while Park’s was 11.0382 (which is rounded up to display as 11.04). A player’s position in the rankings is based on their total points divided by the number of events played over a two-year rolling period. Inbee Park’s divisor went from 56 to 55 this week when the 2012 Sunrise LPGA Championship Presented by Audi fell out of the two-year period while Lewis’ divisor remained at 54.

Park is guaranteed to gain the No. 1 spot as even with a win, Rolex Rankings No. 3 Lydia Ko – who is in the field this week – cannot take over the No. 1 position.

Lewis has held the top spot in the Rolex Rankings for the past 21 weeks. She moved to No. 1 in the world on June 2^nd  following her victory at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. At that time Lewis overtook Park, who had been in the No. 1 position for 59 straight weeks.

INCHEON, South Korea – Kyu Jung Baek of South Korea won a three-way playoff Sunday to claim the LPGA’s KEB-HanaBank Championship.

Baek, making the first LPGA start of her career, shot a final-round 67 to finish tied at 10-under 278 with Brittany Lincicome of the United States and compatriot In Gee Chun, then birdied the first playoff hole on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club to take the title.

In the playoff, Lincicome and Baek hit third shots to four feet on the par-5 18th. Lincicome missed her birdie putt while Baek calmly made hers for the win. Chun’s hopes for the title were dashed when her approach shot went into the greenside water.

“Even before the playoff, I was in a similar situation for a similar shot with a similar break . When I played the KLPGA Championship,” Baek said. “I focused and was aggressive.”

The 19-year old Baek has three victories this year on the Korean tour. She became the fourth teenager to win on the LPGA Tour this season joining Lexi Thompson, Lydia Ko and Hyo Joo Kim.

Baek started the day with a share of the lead but fell back after playing the first 10 holes even-par. She rattled off five-consecutive birdies on Nos. 11-15 to get her back in the share of the lead.

“So going into the final nine, my goal was to come into the top 5 and so I really concentrated on every hole and I started making birdies,” said Baek. “It all started to kind of work for me from then on.”

No. 2-ranked Inbee Park of South Korea shot a 67 to finish one stroke behind the leaders.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie finished two strokes back after a 67 that included three birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 5. Wie was playing in her first tournament since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

Suzanne Pettersen of Norway, who was bidding for a third title here after winning the tournament in 2007 and 2012, shot a 71 to finish tied for 12th at 5-under 283. Defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea struggled with a 76 that left her tied for 46th place.

INCHEON, South Korea – South Korean duo Hee Kyung Bae and Kyu Jung Baek both shot a 4-under 68 to take a share of the lead after the third round of the LPGA’s KEB-HanaBank Championship on Saturday.

Bae birdied five holes after the turn on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club, while Baek had six birdies to go with two bogeys.

“After making the first birdie on the back nine, I really picked up momentum,” Bae said. “My putting was stronger and my shots were stronger.”

Both were at 5-under 211 overall, one stroke ahead of a large group that includes No. 2-ranked Inbee Park, Suzann Pettersen of Norway and overnight leader Karine Icher of France, who only managed a 73.

Pettersen is bidding to win the tournament for a third time.

“I’m trying to just stick to the game plan,” Pettersen said. “I mean, I still feel like I have a low round on this course in me. Hopefully we can knock it out tomorrow.”

Park (68) could supplant Stacy Lewis at No. 1 if she wins the tournament. Lewis is not playing this week.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie is just two strokes off the pace after sinking four birdies on the last five holes for a 67.

Wie is making her first start since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

Defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea shot a 67 and is four strokes off the lead. Women’s British Open winner Mo Martin struggled with a 75 that left her tied for 54th place.

Brittany Lincicome of the United States and Beatriz Recari of Spain both shot even-par 72 to join the group of 10 players who are one stroke back.

INCHEON, South Korea – Karine Icher of France shot a 4-under 68 in the second round to take a one-stroke lead and sit atop the European-dominated leaderboard at the KEB-HanaBank Championship on Friday.

Icher birdied three of her final four holes for a 5-under 139 total on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club.

Brittany Lincicome of the United States, who birdied her final two holes for a 70, and Beatriz Ricari of Spain (70), were tied for second.

Azahara Munoz of Spain (69) was among those tied for fourth, two strokes behind, as was Suzann Pettersen of Norway and Sandra Gal of Germany, who shot 71s.

The wind subsided but Icher said she played “a completely different course” in the second round because of the changing wind directions.

“This week, my coach was here and we practiced a lot of low shots,” Icher said. “It seemed to pay off. Here, it’s always windy. I’ve never played in Korea without wind. Low shots are pretty strong in my game now.”

Icher has five victories on the Ladies European Tour but none on the LPGA circuit.

“It’s the final four or five tournaments for us, so I’d like to win one,” Icher said. “There’s nothing else I’m looking for.”

Lincicome’s tee shot on the par-3 17th hole nearly won her a new car for a hole-in-one when it rolled and hit the flagstick, but it bounced a few feet away.

“I like tournaments where not too many, maybe like five or 10-under par wins, so just keep doing 2-under each day, and I’m right there,” Lincicome said.

No. 3 Lydia Ko of New Zealand shot 69 after an opening 73 and was three strokes behind and tied for 10th along with Haeji Kang of South Korea, who led by two strokes after an opening 67 but shot 75 Friday.

Second-ranked Inbee Park, who could move to No. 1 with a win in the absence of top-ranked Stacy Lewis of the United States, carded 73 and was five strokes behind Icher. Ko could also move to No. 1 with a win.

U.S. Women’s Open champion Michelle Wie improved from her opening 76 with a 70, and was seven strokes off the lead. Wie is making her first start since withdrawing during the first round of the Evian Championship in September after reinjuring a stress fracture in her right hand.

Women’s British Open winner Mo Martin also improved from her opening 78 with a 69 in her return from a thumb injury. She’s eight strokes behind.

Defending champion Amy Yang of South Korea, who made 69 on Thursday, posted 79 with eight bogeys and one birdie and was nine behind Icher.

There was no second-round cut in the field of 78.