Yang Hee-young and Lee Mi-rim "Start Tied 8th"... Hataoka Leads at 10 Under Par

4-Under Par on Marathon Classic Day 1, Choi Woon-jung and Kim A-rim Tied 14th, Defending Champion Danielle Kang 44th, Park In-bee at Even Par Falters

Yang Hee-young started smoothly by shooting 4 under par on the first day of the Marathon Classic, tied for 8th place, 6 strokes behind.

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Yang Hee-young (32, Woori Financial Group) has made a refreshing start.

On the 9th (Korean time), at the Meadows Golf Course in Sylvania, Ohio, USA (par 71, 6,578 yards), the first day of the LPGA Tour Marathon Classic (total prize money $2 million), she shot 4-under par and stood tied for 8th place along with Im Lim (31, NH Investment & Securities). Nasa Hataoka (Japan) leads with 10-under par 61, Lauren Stephenson (USA) is 2nd with 6-under par 65, and Matilda Castren (Finland) and Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand) are among five players tied for 3rd at 5-under par 66.

Yang Hee-young recorded five birdies and one bogey. Starting at the 10th hole, she made her first birdie at the 12th hole (both par 4), followed by consecutive birdies at the 1st and 2nd holes, and another birdie at the 5th hole (par 4), showing great momentum. After her only bogey at the 7th hole (par 5), she immediately recovered with a birdie at the 8th hole (par 3). Although her iron shots were shaky enough to miss the green six times, her 'stingy putting' with only 26 putts stood out. She is six strokes behind the leader, still in a position to make a comeback.

Yang Hee-young debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2008 and has accumulated four career wins. She is a 'quietly strong golfer' who has been active on the main tour for 14 years. She has entered the 'top 10' an impressive 74 times. She also set a remarkable record by winning three times at the Honda LPGA Thailand in 2015, 2017, and 2019. In May of this year, she achieved her best season result by finishing tied for 3rd in this tournament. However, she has been anxious as she has not won for over two years.

Hataoka swept up 10 birdies, including six consecutive birdies, dominating the top of the leaderboard. Her 'needle-like iron shots' with a 100% greens in regulation rate were outstanding. Leading by four strokes, she is aiming for her fourth career win, her first in two years and three months since winning the Kia Classic in April 2019. Rookie Castren joined the leading group, seizing a chance to erase the disappointment of finishing runner-up at last week's Amundi Classic. Defending champion Danielle Kang (USA) is tied for 44th at 1-under par 70.

Park In-bee is reading the putting line on the 6th hole on the first day of the Marathon Classic. Sylvania (USA) = Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

From Korea, Im Lim made four birdies without any bogeys. 2015 champion Choi Woon-jung (31, Volvik) and Kim A-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) are tied for 14th at 3-under par 68. 'Golf queen' Park In-bi (33, KB Financial Group) exchanged two birdies for two bogeys. Her 35 putts held her back, placing her tied for 65th at even par 71. 2012 champion Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) and 2017 champion Kim In-kyung (33, Hanwha Q CELLS) finished tied for 86th at 1-over par 72.

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