No 1 Thitikul struggles in the first round of the LPGA Singapore led by Kim

SINGAPORE (AP) — Top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul struggled during the first round of the HSBC Women’s World Championship on Thursday, shooting a 1-over 73 to trail the leader by seven strokes.

Thitikul won last week’s tournament in her native Thailand and is among nine out of the top 10 players entered in the Singapore LPGA stop on the Sentosa Golf Club’s Tanjong course.

American Auston Kim birdied two of her final three holes for a 66 and a one-stroke lead over China's Yan Liu. Five players were tied for third with 68s, including No. 12-ranked Haeran Ryu.

Defending champion Lydia Ko had a 70, as did Brooke Henderson.

Kim said she opened with a 78 at the Singapore tournament last year.

“When I think about my game and myself as a golfer since last year ... I mean it obviously feels great to score well. But I just I feel like I can handle things a lot better and I’ve been talking with my mental coach, as well,” Kim said.

“There are a lot of things that I’ve changed and a lot of things I feel like I’m doing better. Today was a testament to what we’ve been working on, and I’m working hard on what I can control.”

Joining Thitikul among the top-ranked players well out of the lead were third-ranked Charley Hull and fourth-ranked Minjee Lee, who each shot 72.

No. 2-ranked Nelly Korda is the only player from the top 10 not in Singapore. The tournament is the second of three stops on the LPGA’s early year Asian swing, with the final one next week at Hainan Island, China.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Minjee Lee of Australia tees off during the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Charley Hull of England plays a shot during the HSBC World Championship of women's golf at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Lydia Ko of New Zealand plays a tee shot during HSBC Women's World Championship 2026 at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

Auston Kim of the United States makes a putt shot on the 13th hole during the first round of the LPGA Honda Thailand golf tournament in Pattaya, Thailand, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Kittinun Rodsupan)

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand reacts on the green during the HSBC World Championship of women's golf at Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Suhaimi Abdullah)

HOUSTON (AP) — Masyn Winn hit a two-run homer and José Fermín and Alec Burleson added solo shots to lead the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-5 win over the Houston Astros Saturday night.

Winn’s homer made it 4-1 in the third and the second home run of Fermín’s career pushed the lead to 5-1 in the sixth. Burleson’s shot to the second deck in right field in the seventh made it 6-1.

Yordan Alvarez hit his major league-leading ninth homer in the first inning and Shay Whitcomb hit a three-run homer in the ninth, but it wasn't enough to keep the Astros from losing for the 11th time in 13 games.

Jordan Walker singled in the fifth inning to extend his hitting streak to 13 games and Nolan Gorman had two hits and two RBIs to help the Cardinals to their fourth straight victory.

Andre Pallante (2-1) allowed three hits and a run with a season-high five strikeouts in five innings to get the win for the Cardinals. Riley O'Brien got the last two outs of the game to get his sixth save.

Houston starter Lance McCullers Jr. (1-1) yielded four hits and four runs, walked three batters and hit two in five innings.

McCullers hit the first two batters with pitches before walking Walker with one out. Gorman hit a two RBI single on a grounder to right field to make it 2-0.

Alvarez cut the lead to 2-1 with his home run to center field with one out in the first.

Gorman singled with one out in the third before Winn’s home run to left field made it 4-1.

Fermín connected off Colton Gordon with one out in the sixth on his shot to the seats in left field to push the lead to 5-1.

St. Louis LHP Matthew Liberatore (0-1, 4.29 ERA) opposes RHP Mike Burrows (1-3, 6.55) in the series finale Sunday.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

St. Louis Cardinals' Alec Burleson celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez hits a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn runs the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Saturday, April 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)