CANBERRA, Australia – Kayla Mortellaro’s first round of golf
on the LPGA Tour was a one-over 74 at the 2013 ISPS Handa Australian Open at
the Royal Canberra Golf Club.
Mortellaro bogeyed three of her first four holes before
settling in and playing two-under over the next 14 holes to finish the first
round in a logjam tied for 99th. While she is 11 strokes off the
pace set by first-day leader Lydia Ko, who shot a 10-under 63, Mortellaro needs
to pick up just two strokes on the group for a chance at making the cut to the
final two rounds in the $1.2 million tournament.
Mortellaro had a bit of an up-and-down round. She hit just
eight greens in regulation and 10 of 14 fairways. However, she did need just 26
putts over the 6,108-yard course.