Gulbis leads in Mexico

Natalie Gulbis fired a six-under-par 66 but local favourite Lorena Ochoa struggled to a one-over 73 in the first round of the Morelia Championship in Mexico.

Looking for her first LPGA Tour victory, Gulbis carded six birdies and no bogeys to open a two-shot lead over Audra Burks and Sweden’s Carin Koch.

Gulbis took advantage of her length off the tee and accurate iron game on the 6,763-yard Tres Marias Residential Golf Club course. Of her six birdies, five were inside 10 feet. Her longest birdie putt was a 10-footer on the par-four 11th.

“I am very fortunate I have good distance off the tee,” Gulbis said. “That definitely helps on a course like this. I had a lot of wedges and you can fire at pins when you have short wedges in your hand.”

For the fourth time in LPGA history and second time this season, the tour is in Mexico.