Despite Injuries, Jane Park Leading Kia Classic

Injury-plagued Jane Park holds a one-shot lead over Hall of Famer Karrie Webb and Caroline Hedwall entering Friday's second round of the $1.7 million Kia Classic at the Aviara Golf Club at the Park Hyatt Resort.

Park shot a bogey-free six-under-par 66 Thursday, including birdies on the fourth, fifth and sixth holes, for her best round since shooting a 66 in the final round of the Evian Masters in 2009.

"The weather was fantastic today, like it always is in San Diego, and just wanted to take advantage of that and the fresh greens this morning and fortunately I made a ton of putts,'' Park said Thursday.

Park was raised in Rancho Cucamonga and played one season at UCLA before turning professional in 2006. She finished second in two tournaments in 2008 but has not finished higher than 21st since 2009.

"About three years ago is when I started to struggle,'' Park said, citing some "personal family issues,'' a lower back injury, some neck problems and "a lot of tendonitis in my wrist.''

"They're lingering, but they're manageable,'' said Park, who is 298th on the Rolex Women's Golf Rankings. Park said her injuries were "a bummer, but almost every girl out here has injuries from grinding away on the driving range. It comes with the job, so it's not a big deal.''

Webb, a member of the LPGA Tour and World Golf halls of fame who hasn't won since 2011, had six birdies, including three consecutive on the sixth through eighth holes, and a bogey on the par-4 13th. "I didn't really get myself in too much trouble, just one hole I missed a fairway and was in the deep rough, but other than that, it was all right.''

Hedwall shot a six-under-par 30 on the front nine, including birdies on the fifth through eighth holes, then double-bogeyed the par-5 10th hole, where she hit her drive into the water, and bogeyed the par-4 16th. Stacy Lewis, who moved atop the rankings Monday after winning the last two LPGA Tour tournaments, was among 10 players shooting two-under-par 70s, tying for 16th, four shots off the lead.

–City News Service