As the sun went down Friday in the first round of the IOA Championship presented by Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Dorsey Addicks buried a six-foot birdie putt on No. 9—the last stroke of the day—to shoot a 7-under par 65 for a one-shot lead.
“Had to stay patient and out of my own way,” Addicks said after a bogey-free effort. “It’s easy to go to sleep when you are 7-under. Tomorrow, I won’t even look at today’s round. I’ll take the mindset that it doesn’t matter what I did, it’s a long weekend with a lot of golf still to play.”
Nuria Iturrioz was also bogey-free, firing the low round from the morning wave of 6-under. She’s joined by Ssu-Chia Cheng in a tie for second after 18 holes. Cheng managed seven birdies around Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon, while Iturrioz only played the par-5s in 1-under fashion.
“I missed birdies on the par-5s, so I am playing well. It means I’m playing good,” said Iturrioz. “Putting is good, playing good, feeling good, but it’s golf and you never know what can happen.”
In outright fourth sits Nishtha Madan. The Sacramento State University alumna found her way to a bogey-free, 5-under 67 which included an eagle at No. 16.
“Good drive down the right-center fairway and had about 218 yards to the pin,” said Madan, looking back on the par-5. “Hit a nice floater 7-wood 205 yards and it just barely got over the ridge, then made a 35-foot putt. Three good shots.”
Six players are tied for fifth following an opening-round 68. Defending champion Sophie Hausmann shot a 3-under 69 to find herself tied for 11th.
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