Yoo So-yeon 4 Under Par "Again 2018~"... Cup Cho Leads at 9 Under Par

On the First Day of the Meyer Classic, Jeon In-ji and Choi Woon-jung Tied for 15th, Mendoza in 2nd, Defending Champions Korda and An Na-rin Tied for 7th

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Again 2018’.

This marks the revival stretch of So-yeon Ryu (32, photo). On the 17th (Korean time), at Blyder Field Golf Club (par 72, 6,638 yards) in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA, she posted 4-under par on the first day of the LPGA Tour Meijer Classic (total prize money $2.5 million), placing tied for 15th. Jennifer Kupcho leads (9-under 63), Jareena Mendoza is second (8-under 64), and Lexi Thompson (all from the USA) are tied for third (7-under 65).

So-yeon Ryu won the US Women’s Open in 2011 as a non-member, earning her a major champion status and direct entry to the LPGA Tour the following year. She was named Rookie of the Year in 2012 after winning the Jamie Farr Classic and has accumulated six wins on the US stage, including two majors. However, since winning this tournament in June 2018, she has gone four years without a title. This year, she has played in eight tournaments but has yet to crack the top 10. Her best finish this season was tied for 21st at the Honda Classic in March.

Ryu was different today. On the ‘promised land,’ she boasted perfect play with four birdies and no bogeys. After her first birdie on the 4th hole (par 5), she made ‘stepping stone birdies’ on the 8th and 10th holes, then added another birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5). She powered her game with an average 252-yard drive and a ‘pinpoint iron shot’ accuracy rate of 77.78%. Although she trails the leader by five strokes, with three days remaining, she is in a position to expect a comeback.

Jennifer Kupcho is teeing off on the 2nd hole on the first day of the Meijer Classic. Grand Rapids, USA = Getty Images/Multivitz

Kupcho swept up one eagle and seven birdies to dominate the top of the leaderboard. She entered the LPGA Tour in 2019 and is in her fourth year, having won her first title at the major Chevron Championship last April. Defending champion Nelly Korda (USA) is tied for seventh (5-under 67). She returned to the field two weeks ago after overcoming thrombosis, marking her first play in four months. ‘US Women’s Open champ’ Minjee Lee (Australia) and last week’s ShopRite Classic winner Brooke Henderson (Canada) are tied for 15th.

From Korea, rookie Anna Rinn (26) posted the best score, tied for seventh. Jeon In-ji (28) and Choi Woon-jung (32) started solidly, tied for 15th. ‘Top rookie’ Choi Hye-jin (23) recorded three birdies and one bogey, tied for 45th (2-under 70). 2016 champion Kim Se-young (29) began tied for 66th (1-under 71). ‘Golf queen’ Park In-bee (34) made three birdies but four bogeys, finishing tied for 103rd (1-over 73).

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