Malixi trails Korean leaders by four

MANILA, Philippines — Showing she can compete against the top pros, 17-year-old Filipina amateur Rianne Malixi fired a strong three-under 69 opening card that put her just four off the lead in the Hana Financial Group Championship in Incheon, Korea.

Maliixi, the reigning  US Women’s Amateur and US Girls’ Junior champion, collected five birdies against two bogeys to get in early contention in the prestigious Korea LPGA event headlined by fancied lady golfers including red-hot world No. 3 Lydia Ko.

Malixi, the No. 3 amateur in the world, occupied joint 14th after the first 18 holes at the Bear’s Best Golf Club, outperforming Paris Olympics gold medalist Ko, who submitted a 70 for tied 22nd, in the initial salvo.

South Korea’s Yoon Ina and Hong Hyunji took pole position with identical 65s with compatriots Ma Dasom and Lee Jeoyeong two strokes back with their 67s.

Filipina Harmie Constantino, had a 74 for joint 75th. She bogeyed four of the first 11 holes but rebounded with birdies on Nos. 14 and 16 en route to her 38-36 card.