Birdie runs drive Lydia Ko to first-round lead

Lydia Ko leads by 1 at Lake Merced

1h - Golf

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Play1:42Lydia Ko's strong iron play put the defending champion atop the Round 1 leaderboard at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic.Associated Press

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DALY CITY, Calif. -- As Lydia Ko geared up to turn 18 on Friday at the Swinging Skirts LPGA Classic, right behind her on the leaderboard was 54-year-old Juli Inkster.

Refreshed and ready to make a run at defending her title, the top-ranked Ko returned from two weeks off to take the first-day lead Thursday at 5-under 67.

Ko nearly chipped in for eagle on the par-5 14th, but the ball deflected off the pin and she settled for a tap-in birdie, which moved her to the…