Lee Jeong-min and Kim Se-eun '6 Under Par Co-Leaders'... Choi Hye-jin '2 Over Par Tied 90th'

NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship Day 1: Sung Yu-jin 3rd Place by 1 Stroke, Park Min-ji Tied 4th, Lim Hee-jung Disqualified for Scorecard Error

Lee Jung-min is teeing off at the 1st hole on the first day of the NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the winning march of 2015 champion Lee Jeong-min (29, Hanwha Q CELLS).

On the 14th, at the New Course of Suwon Golf Club in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province (par 72, 6,554 yards), the first day of the KLPGA Tour NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship (total prize money 700 million won), she shot 6 under par to dominate the top of the leaderboard. Kim Se-eun (23, Doohwi Edge) joined this group, and Sung Yoo-jin (21, Hanwha Q CELLS) is in 3rd place (5 under par, 67 strokes). Five players including ‘Nexen Champ’ Park Min-ji (23, NH Investment & Securities), Lee Da-yeon (24), and Ahn Ji-hyun (22, all Mediheal) are tied for 4th place (4 under par, 68 strokes).

Lee Jeong-min boasted a perfect play with six birdies and no bogeys. She reduced three strokes in the front nine with a birdie on the 1st hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 8th and 9th holes, and in the back nine, she added consecutive birdies on the 12th and 13th holes, followed by another birdie on the 17th hole (par 5). Leading the tie by one stroke, she has a chance for her 9th career win, her first in 5 years and 2 months since winning the World Ladies Championship in March 2016. She said, "My putting was good," and "I am confident because I like this course."

Kim Se-eun swept up seven birdies (one bogey) to join the race for the championship. She played under the name Kim Hyun-ji until last year before changing her name. She said, "I can't relax just because I played well on the first day," and "I will play calmly without being greedy." Park Min-ji is chasing the joint leader by two strokes, aiming for her second win of the season. Jang Ha-na (29, BC Card), who had rested for two tournaments due to an ankle injury, is tied for 9th place (3 under par, 69 strokes).

‘KLPGA Championship Champ’ Park Hyun-kyung (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) and ‘Lotte Rent-a-Car Champ’ Lee So-mi (22, SBI Savings Bank) started comfortably, tied for 20th place (2 under par, 70 strokes). ‘Kyochon Champ’ Kwak Bo-mi (29, High1 Resort) is tied for 39th place (1 under par, 71 strokes). Defending champion Choi Hye-jin (22, Lotte) made one birdie but three bogeys, falling to a tie for 90th place (2 over par, 74 strokes). Lim Hee-jung (21, Korea Land & Housing Corporation) was disqualified due to a scorecard error.

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