Golf: Danny Lee surges to share of Texas lead

Rotorua's Danny Lee continued his recent run of form by taking a share of the lead at the Texas Open on a day of contrasts for Kiwi golfers.

While Lydia Ko ended the first round of the Kia Classic in California tied for 71st after a two-over par 74, Lee will head into round two on top of the leader board.

The 23-year-old shot a four-under 68 on the opening day in San Antonio to join Americans Pat Pereze and Andrew Loupe at the front of the field, one shot ahead of six players tied for second.

After earlier this month recording his best ever finish on the PGA Tour by coming second at the Puerto Rico Open, Lee took a first-round lead at the Valspar Championship before collapsing to miss the cut.

He then finished in a tie for 31st at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, before shooting four birdies in his final five holes to sit in pole position at the $7.2 million tournament in Texas.

"It was a really nice day for me," he told local media. "I was hitting it really well. I wasn't making enough putts in the early round but at the end I made some 15-footers and 25-footers."

Lee, who now calls Irving, Texas home, had missed six straight cuts before he earned $434,809 for his work in Puerto Rico, a tournament he said sparked a resurgence in his game. "Ever since I finished second at Puerto Rico everything changed a little bit for me. I was starting to act more positive, I was believing in every shot I hit and I was believing in my game ..."

Fellow Kiwi Tim Wilkinson was sitting on one-over in a tie for 70th when play was suspended due to darkness, while on the Japan Tour Gareth Paddison shot eight-under to take a first round lead at the Indonesia Championship.

Ko, meanwhile, trails leaders Paula Creamer and Mariajo Uribe by seven shots after an indifferent opening day at the Kia Classic.

The world No4 ended the front nine on even par but shot three bogeys and a birdie after making the turn.

The 16-year-old will have her work cut out for her in the second round but, based on their respective records, she and Lee could swap positions today.APNZ