Golf: Ko makes steady start in Michigan

With her next major appearance only a week away, Lydia Ko has made a steady start at the LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo / Natalie Slade.

With her next major appearance only a week away, Lydia Ko has made a steady start at the LPGA Classic in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

The 17-year-old is in a share of 10th place after carding a two-under 69 during her opening round today, which included three birdies and a bogey, at the Blythefield Country Club.

Ko, who won her last tournament at the Marathon Classic in mid-July as she ticked over the $1 million-mark in earnings for the season, is four strokes back from leader Sandra Gal (-6). Korean Inbee Park is second at five-under, while Australian Katherine Kirk is one shot back in third.

Next week, Ko will line up in the LPGA Championship in New York as she bids to become the youngest player to win a major.

Kiwi PGA Tour professionals Tim Wilkinson and Danny Lee both have a week off as they didn't have a start in the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky.

On the second-tier Web.com Tour, Steven Alker made a hot start to the Price Cutter Charity Championship in Springfield, Missouri as he was five-under through 11 holes in a share of fifth place before inclement weather caused a halt to the opening round.

Alker, who has all-but secured a PGA Tour card for next season, was two shots back from American Martin Piller (-7) and play was expected to continue later today.

Across the globe, Hamilton's Mathew Perry started the Yulongwan Yunnan Open on the PGA Tour China in terrible fashion yesterday as he carded an 11-over 83 to sit in 123rd place with little hope of making the cut.

Meanwhile, James Beale has claimed the Canadian Men's Amateur Championship title after rolling in a long birdie putt on the third playoff hole at Elmhurst Golf and Country Club.

The Aucklander finished 72 holes tied atop the leaderboard alongside Canada's Taylor Pendrith and American Jonathan Garrick at six-under par.

The trio battled it out over three holes before Beale's 22-foot birdie putt found the bottom of the cup on the par-four 18th hole.

"Honestly I don't know if it's good or bad but the thought went through my mind just as I was standing over it that this is for the win," said Beale when describing his winning putt.

"As I looked at the hole I just kind of stroked it and tapped it down there and it just tracked towards the hole and I couldn't believe it."