I.K. Kim takes first-round lead in LPGA’s Portland Classic

I.K. Kim birdied the first four holes on the back nine Thursday and finished with a seven-under 65 to take the first-round lead in the Portland Classic in Oregon.

The South Korean player birdied seven of the first 13 holes and closed her afternoon round with five straight pars. She won the last of her three LPGA Tour titles in 2010.

“I hit the ball well and made some putts coming down … there was a couple of tricky holes coming down the stretch, so I’m very pleased with how I finished. Solid round, yeah,” Kim said. “My game’s feeling good. Just need to keep playing.”

Kim, the winner of a Ladies European Tour event in England in July, tied for 42nd last week in the Canadian Women’s Open.

Amelia Lewis and Jennifer Song were a shot back in ideal conditions at Columbia Edgewater. Lewis, winless on the tour, had a bogey-free round.

Anna Nordqvist, a two-time winner this year, was another stroke back at 67 along with Mina Harigae, Julieta Granada, Laura Diaz, Alison Walshe, Emma Jandel and Paula Reto.

Juli Inkster, making her 28th appearance in the event at age 54, topped the group at 68.

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Home favorite Francesco Molinari and Austria’s Bernd Wiesberger both shot 66 to share the first round lead at the Italian Open in Turin, while Stephen Gallacher’s bid to earn a late spot on Europe’s Ryder Cup team ran into trouble.

Molinari and Wiesberger managed six birdies each in their bogey-free rounds to finish six under par. They lead a group of five players, including early leader John Hahn of the United States, by one stroke.

Gallacher, who needs a top-two finish to dislodge former U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell from Europe’s team, opened with a par-72. The Scot is the only player still capable of moving into the automatic Ryder Cup places in the final qualifying event.