GOLD COAST, Australia, 25 February 2005 — Japan’s teenage golf sensation Ai Miyazato blasted a spectacular nine-under 63 to lead the Australian Ladies Masters by three shots after the first round at Royal Pines here yesterday.

The 19-year-old lived up to the fanfare which preceded her Australian debut by ripping apart the Royal Pines course to lead Australian Katherine Hull (66) by three shots with Sweden’s Linda Wessberg, England’s Kirsty Taylor and Australian Nikki Campbell tied for third on 67.

“It was awesome. That’s the easiest 63 I’ve ever seen, she should probably win,” said Australian playing partner Karrie Webb, who shot 63 on the way to winning the 1999 Ladies Masters by 10 shots.

If conditions remain as benign over the next three days, Miyazato could smash Annika Sorenstam’s current four-round LPGA scoring record of 27 under, which included a rare 59 in winning the Moon Valley Country Club Championship in Phoenix, Arizona in 2001.

Miyazato, who seems oblivious to the media commotion around her, said she would try and shoot three or four under for each of the next three days.

Her celebrity star status for Japanese media proved a nightmare for course marshals trying to control television crews and photographers scrambling for vantage points as well large galleries packed with Asian spectators using cameras and mobile phones to snap pictures of her.

Bowditch Leads First Round of New Zealand PGA

In Wellington, Australia’s Steven Bowditch shot a flawless round of eight-under-par 64 to grab a two-stroke lead after the first round of the New Zealand PGA in Christchurch yesterday. The 21-year-old continued where he left off in winning last week’s South Australian Open with four birdies on both the front and back nines.

Five players — Canadian Jon Mills, New Zealand’s Tony Christie, American Brent Schwarzrock and Australians Darren Beck and Peter O’Malley — finished the opening round in a five-way tie for second with rounds of six-under 66.

Thongchai and Cort Take Early Lead in Myanmar

In Yangon, defending champion Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand and England’s Matthew Cort shot five-under-par 67s to share the first round lead in the Myanmar Open yesterday.

Jaidee, the Asian Tour No. 1, who successfully defended his Malaysian Open title last week by leading from start to finish, produced seven birdies against a double bogey at Yangon Golf Club in the $200,000 championship.