Yang Hee-young Fresh Start "Tied 6th, 1 Stroke Behind"
Meyer Classic 1R 5-Under Surge
Defending Champion Cupcho and 4 Others Tied for Lead
Jieunhee and Yu Haeran Tied 10th, Kim Hyoju 22nd
Veteran Yang Hee-young is on a winning streak.
On the 15th (local time), Yang Hee-young shot 5 under par in the first round of the LPGA Tour Meijer Classic (total prize money $2.5 million) held at Blythefield Country Club (par 72, 6,581 yards) in Belmont, Michigan, USA, securing a tie for 6th place. Defending champion Jennifer Kupcho (USA), Ayaka Furue (Japan), and three others share the lead at 6 under par 66.
![Yang Hee-young is reading the putt line on the 1st hole of the 1st round at the Meijer Classic. [Grand Rapids, USA=AFP·Yonhap News]](http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/img_view.htm?img=2023061608050565647_1686870304.jpeg)
Yang Hee-young is reading the putt line on the 1st hole of the 1st round at the Meijer Classic. [Grand Rapids, USA=AFP·Yonhap News]
View original imageYang recorded seven birdies and two bogeys. She relied on her powerful iron shots, with an average drive of 266 yards and a greens in regulation rate of 88.89%. Her bunker save rate of 100% was also impressive. Yang is just one stroke behind the co-leaders, setting the stage for her fifth career win, her first in 4 years and 4 months since winning the Honda Thailand in February 2019. Her best result this season was a tie for 4th at the Chevron Championship in April.
Kupcho showcased perfect play with six birdies and no bogeys. Ashley Buhai (South Africa), last week’s ShopRite Classic winner, started solidly in a tie for 10th place at 4 under par 68. World No. 5 Minjee Lee (Australia) is also in this group. World No. 3 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) exchanged three birdies for three bogeys and was unable to lower her score, finishing tied for 80th at even par 72.
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Korea’s Ji Eun-hee, Yoo Hae-ran, and Choi Woon-jung are tied for 10th place. Kim Hyo-joo, Park Sung-hyun, and Kang Hye-ji are tied for 22nd at 3 under par 69, while Choi Hye-jin and Anna Lin are tied for 34th at 2 under par 70. Yoo So-yeon, Lee Jeong-eun 6, and Lee Mi-hyang are tied for 53rd at 1 under par 71. Jeon In-ji struggled with two birdies and five bogeys, tied for 129th at 3 over par 75.
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