'16-year-old' Kim Min-sol "8-under par amateur sensation"..."Thanks to team leader Ko Jin-young unnie"

LPGA Tour BMW Ladies Championship Round 1 Second Place Start
'Top Rookie' Titikun Leads at 9 Under Par, Kim Arim and Hong Yeyeun Tied for 3rd
Choi Hyejin, Kim Hyoju, and Park Sunghyun Tied for 9th, Ko Jinyoung Tied for 76th at 8 Over Par

'16-year-old' Kim Min-sol (left) is walking with her caddy after a tee shot on the 10th hole on the first day of the BMW Ladies Championship. Photo by BMW Korea

[Wonju (Gangwon) = Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] National team standby player Kim Min-sol (16, Suseong Bangtong High School 1st year) is making a splash.

On the 20th, Kim Min-sol shot 8 under par on the first day of the BMW Ladies Championship (total prize money $2 million), the only LPGA Tour event in Korea, held at Oak Valley Golf Club in Wonju, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,647 yards), placing second. Rookie No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) leads with 9 under par 63, followed by Kim A-rim (27), Hong Ye-eun (20), and Andrea Lee (USA) tied for third at 6 under par 66.

Kim Min-sol made 9 birdies and 1 bogey. After a birdie on the 10th hole (par 4) was offset by a bogey on the 12th hole (par 3), she changed the momentum with 'stepping stone birdies' on the 5th and 17th holes. In the back nine, she finished the round on a high note with four consecutive birdies from holes 3 to 6 and back-to-back birdies on holes 8 and 9.

Kim Min-sol first drew attention by winning the Blue One Korean Junior Golf Championship in July. She was included as one of two amateur players recommended by the Korea Golf Association for this tournament. Kim said, "I came out with the mindset to reduce bogeys, and I am satisfied with my performance. Today, my iron shots felt great, allowing me to create many birdie opportunities from short distances," expressing her excitement.

She expressed gratitude to Ko Jin-young (27), world No. 1, with whom she shared a room during winter training camp. "I asked Jin-young unni many questions, especially about the short game," Kim said. "She said that you have to think a lot during practice, and it's the part where your head works the most," adding, "I received a lot of help." Kim emphasized, "Being aggressive is important, but being too bold can be risky. My goal is always to focus on the present and play each hole diligently."

Thitikul boasted a perfect play with no bogeys, one eagle, and seven birdies. This marks her third win of the season following last month's Walmart NW Arkansas Championship victory. Lydia Ko (New Zealand) is tied for 6th at 4 under par 68, while Kim Hyo-joo (27), Choi Hye-jin (23), and Park Sung-hyun (29) are tied for 9th at 3 under par 69, starting smoothly. Minjee Lee (Australia) is tied for 19th at 2 under par 70, and Yoo So-yeon (32) and Kim Se-young (29) are tied for 31st at 1 under par 71.

‘Big sister’ Ji Eun-hee (36) exchanged three birdies for three bogeys, tied for 41st at even par 72. Choi Na-yeon (35), who is playing her retirement tournament, is tied for 66th at 3 over par 75. Ko Jin-young struggled with three birdies, six bogeys, and one quintuple bogey, tied for 76th at 8 over par 80.

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