Koda 6 Under Par vs Ko Jin-young 3 Under Par... Lee Jeong-eun6 Leads at 8 Under Par

2021 Season Final CME Group Tour Championship Day 1: Korda Takes Early Lead, Kim Se-young Tied 2nd, Yoo So-yeon Tied 6th

Nelly Korda is hitting an iron shot on the 3rd hole during the first day of the 2021 season finale CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multivitz

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is a strong start by No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA).

On the 19th (Korean time) at Tiburon Golf Club in Naples, Florida (par 72, 6,556 yards), the first day of the final event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the CME Group Tour Championship (total prize money $5 million), Korda shot 6-under par to tie for 6th place. Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction) leads with 8-under par 64, and Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal) is tied for 2nd at 7-under par 65. No. 2 Ko Jin-young (26) started tied for 25th at 3-under par 69.

Korda racked up eight birdies and two bogeys. She showed great resilience by making five birdies in 11 holes, including a streak of three consecutive birdies. In the remaining seven holes, she made three birdies and two bogeys. She relied on precise tee shots with a 100% fairway hit rate. She is two strokes behind the leader and has a chance to secure her fifth win of the season with back-to-back victories following last week's Pelican Women's Championship. She is currently leading the world rankings, money list, and Player of the Year standings.

Ko Jin-young shows a disappointed expression after taking a shot at the 3rd hole on the first day of the final event of the 2021 season, the CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multibits

Defending champion Ko Jin-young recorded five birdies and two bogeys. She exchanged two birdies for two bogeys on the front nine without reducing her score but made three birdies on holes 10, 16, and 18 on the back nine. She is five strokes behind the leader. Having won four times this year, she ranks second in both the money list and Player of the Year standings. She has already entered the top 10 twelve times in 18 tournaments and received the Leaders Top 10 award. A win would also secure her the prize money and Player of the Year title.

Lee Jeong-eun 6 is smiling while walking on the 18th hole on the first day of the 2021 season finale CME Group Tour Championship. Naples, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

‘Hot Six’ Lee Jeong-eun6 showcased flawless play with eight birdies and no bogeys. Especially on holes 16 (par 3), 17 (par 5), and 18 (par 4), she achieved what is called a ‘cycle birdie.’ Her fairway hit rate and greens in regulation were both 100%. She also had a good putting count of 28 for the round. Since her first career win as a non-member at the 2019 major US Women’s Open, she has endured over two years and five months without a title.

In Korea, 2019 champion Kim Se-young is chasing the leader by one stroke. She has laid the groundwork to shake off the disappointment of last week's playoff runner-up finish. Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal) is tied for 6th at 6-under par 66, and ‘eldest sister’ Ji Eun-hee (35, Hanwha Q CELLS) is tied for 14th at 5-under par 67, performing well. Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group), Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte), and Choi Woon-jung (31, Volvik) are tied for 25th, while Kim Ah-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 44th at 1-under par.

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