Cheyenne Woods is in contention for first LPGA win

While Uncle Tiger is struggling to make the cut at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio, Cheyenne Woods tore it up on Thursday north of the border on the LPGA Tour.

Woods shot 9-under 63 to set a new competitive course record at Whistle Bear Golf Club in Ontario, Canada, and share the lead with Cristie Kerr and P.K. Kongkraphan after Round 1 of the Manulife LPGA Classic. Woods made eight birdies, an eagle and just one bogey en route to the pace-setting score that was matched in the afternoon wave. The Wake Forest product made five birdies and no bogeys on the back nine to close her career-best round.

Woods, an LPGA rookie in 2015, has been struggling to find her form. She’s 113th on the Tour’s money list, just three weeks away from what’s called a reshuffle, where players’ status to pick and choose their schedule changes based on their in-season results and earnings. In other words, a big check this week would go a long way in securing Woods’ 2016 status. Obviously, a win would do much more and guarantee her security for two years.

The 24-year-old is excited about the opportunity on Friday afternoon to play from the front of the pack.

“It’s great to be in this position,” Woods said. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. I’m just going to go out there – it’s a new day – and go into it with the same mindset and just go play golf.”