StarBulletin.com

Wie opens with 70 at State Farm Classic


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POSTED: Thursday, June 04, 2009

Honolulu’s Michelle Wie closed with back-to-back bogeys today to drop from a tie for fifth to a tie for 36th at the LPGA State Farm Classic in Springfield, Ill. Her 2-under 70 leaves her four shots off the pace of first-day leaders Jee Young Lee and Se Ri Pak.

Teeing it up at No. 10 in the early afternoon, Wie played the back nine in 2-under 34. She began her round with six consecutive pars, then got hot with the putter. Starting at the par-5 16th (her seventh), Wie birdied four of the next five, including the opening two of her back nine to play her way into contention.

She had a rare bogey-free round going until carding a 5 at the par-4 eighth (her 17th). She hit seven fairways and 10 greens in regulation, and needed 29 putts. She averaged 276.5 yards off the tee.