Ko has rollercoaster round as tornado warning halts play

Lydia Ko has made a solid start to the US Open women’s golf championship, carding an even-par 70 in the opening round at the Lancaster Country Club in Pennsylvania.

New Zealand’s world No2 mixed four birdies with four bogeys in a rollercoaster round on the demanding layout.

That left her four shots off the pace of early clubhouse leaders Marina Alex, of the United States, and Australian Karrie Webb.

The 18-year-old Ko was in a tie for 18th but many players were left stranded by a weather delay as a tornado warning forced organisers to halt play with rain falling and thunder booming.

Ko, enjoying an early tee time in the US$4.5 million event, opened with a birdie and came through the front nine well-placed at 2-under, shooting 33.

She made an encouraging start to the second nine by birdying the par-four 10th hole.

But bogeys on 11, 15 and 18 saw her card fall away.

Ko hit eight of 14 fairways in a mixed day off the tee. But her strong recovery game saw her make 15 greens in regulation and she needed 33 putts.

Having failed to make the cut at the last major a month ago, Ko responded with a solid effort at Lancaster.

The confidence from her finalround 63 at last week’s LPGA Tour event in Arkansas flowed into her early game.

Ko is trying to block out the increasing pressures to claim a major title, the only accolade missing on her rapidly expanding CV.

With a win this week in Lancaster, Ko would become the youngest major champion in LPGA history at 18 years, 2 months and 18 days old.

If she wins any of the three remaining majors this year, Ko would unseat Morgan Pressel as the youngest major champion.

Pressel won the Kraft Nabisco Championship at 18 years, 10 months and 9 days old.

Defending champion Michelle Wie (US) hit a two-over 72.

Wie finished with a winning total of 2-under to claim the trophy last year, reflective of the tough set-ups delivered for the US Open.