South Korea’s A Lim Kim produced three consecutive birdies near the end of a bogey-free round, and she emerged with the lead after the first round of the Lotte Championship on Thursday in Honolulu.
A Lim Kim carded a 7-under-par 65 at Hoakalei Country Club, leaving her one shot ahead of China’s Yu Liu and South Korea’s Ina Yoon.
Auston Kim, Sweden’s Maja Stark, Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen and Jeeno Thitikul, Germany’s Polly Mack and China’s Michelle Zhang are tied for fourth at 67. A pack of 14 players share 10th place at 68.
A Lim Kim, 30, opened with a birdie and was 4 under through 14 holes despite variable weather conditions. She then birdied the par-3 15th hole and the par-4 16th and 17th holes before closing with a 5 on the par-5 18th.
“Trajectory for control and then putting (are) really important (on) this course because (it’s) very windy,” she said. “And then today, rain is back and forth, back and forth, so tough conditions. But it was really good play today, yeah.”
A Lim Kim is looking for her fourth career LPGA win, with her most recent victory coming last year at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions in Orlando. She owns one major title, as she captured the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open in her first appearance at an LPGA major.
Liu also completed a bogey-free round, beginning with a birdie on the par-4 10th hole and closing with a birdie on the par-3 ninth.
“It was definitely (a) very challenging course, especially with the windy condition, but I felt like today the wind didn’t (get) too strong, which is on the friendly side,” Liu said. “So I felt like I was able to score, make some good scores out of the calmer conditions.”
Yoon was 7 under par through 12 holes, but she made her lone bogey of the day at the par-4 sixth.
“I made a lot of like mid-range putts today,” Yoon said. “Was so good. My (first) nine was really solid. … I made five birdies and a little bit of mistake on the back, but I recovered OK so it was fun.”
Asked about playing in the wind, Yoon said, “I feel like I’m kind of getting used to it because, yeah, I played Scotland golf and AIG and kind of got used to (it). Try to hit it low, and (the greens were a) little soft, so even (if) I hit the low shot, (the) ball kind of stops quick, so it was cool.”
Defending champion Youmin Hwang of South Korea opened with an even-par 72, tied for 74th.
