Choi Hye-jin's Bid for 2 Consecutive Wins "Surging with 8 Under Par"... Kim Hyo-joo at 3 Under Par

S-Oil Championship Day 1: Jang Hana and Park Gyeol Lead by One Stroke at 6 Under Par, Lee Jeong-eun 6 and Kim Se-young, Park Hyun-kyung at 4 Under Par

Choi Hye-jin is teeing off at the 11th hole on the first day of the S-Oil Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] 'Domestic No. 1' Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) is on her way to a second consecutive victory.

On the first day of the KLPGA Tour S-Oil Championship (total prize money 700 million won) held on the 12th at Elysian Golf Club in Jeju City, Jeju Island (par 72, 6642 yards), she shot 8 under par to dominate the top of the leaderboard. Jeon Woo-ri (23, Korea Land & Housing Trust), Jung Yeon-joo (28, Daebang Construction), Lee So-mi (21, SBI Savings Bank), and Lee Je-young (19) are tied for 2nd place at 7 under par, while Jang Ha-na (28, BC Card), Park Gyeol (24, Samil Pharmaceutical), Kim Bo-ah (25, Nexis), and Lee Ki-ppeum (26, Cham Joeun Travel) are tied for 6th place at 6 under par.

Choi Hye-jin collected 9 birdies (1 bogey). She reduced 5 strokes in the front nine with a birdie on the first hole, the 10th hole (par 5), three consecutive birdies from the 13th to 15th holes, and a birdie on the 17th hole (par 4). In the back nine, after a bogey on the 1st hole (par 4), she made three consecutive birdies from the 4th to 6th holes and finished the round cleanly with a birdie on the last 9th hole (par 5). She missed the fairway only once and the green twice. Her putting count was 26. She leads by one stroke and is poised to secure her first win of the season by defending her title.

Kim Hyo-joo (left) and Kim Se-young are looking at the course on the 11th hole on the first day of the S-Oil Championship. Photo by KLPGA

"Overall, my condition is good," she said, "I really want to defend my title at least once." Nine players, including Lee Ga-young (21, NH Investment & Securities), Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks), and Park Chae-yoon (26, Samchully), are tied for 10th place at 5 under par. 'LPGA Rookie of the Year' Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24, Daebang Construction) shot 4 under par and is tied for 19th place. Kim Se-young (27, Mirae Asset), 'KLPGA Championship champ' Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Housing Trust), and Lim Hee-jeong (Hanwha Q CELLS) are in this group.

Last week's Lotte Cantata Women's Open winner Kim Hyo-joo (25, Lotte) is tied for 40th place at 3 under par, eyeing a rise to the top ranks. Lee Bo-mi (32) and Oh Ji-hyun (24, KB Financial Group) started tied for 77th place at 1 under par. On the other hand, 'E1 Charity Open champ' Lee So-young (23, Lotte) is tied for 100th place at 1 over par. 'KLPGA Rookie of the Year' Jo Ah-yeon (20, Volvik) lost 3 strokes with 4 birdies, 2 bogeys, 1 double bogey, and 1 triple bogey. She tied for 113th place along with Kim Ha-neul (32, Hite Jinro).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.