Shin Ji-eun Starts with 2 Under Par... Pace Leads at 5 Under Par

KPMG Women's 1R Maguire Ties 6th
Henderson 2nd, Rose Jang 12th, Choi Hyejin 17th
Ko Jinyoung 33rd, Jeon Inji 61st, Koda 106th

Veteran Shin Ji-eun makes a fresh start.

On the 22nd (local time), Shin Ji-eun posted a 2-under-par 69 in the first round of the second major tournament of the 2023 LPGA Tour season, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $10 million), held at Baltusrol Golf Club (par 71, 6,621 yards) in Springfield, New Jersey, USA, placing her in a tie for 6th. Lee-Anne Pace (South Africa) leads with 5-under-par 66, while Brooke Henderson (Canada) and Lin Xiyu (China) are tied for 2nd at 4-under-par 67.

Shin Ji-eun is teeing off at the 11th hole during the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. [Springfield, USA=Photo by AFP and Yonhap News]

Shin Ji-eun recorded five birdies and three bogeys. Her strong start with birdies on holes 3, 6, and 7 stood out. After a bogey on the 9th hole (par 3), she recovered with a birdie on the 11th hole (par 4), but lost one stroke each on the 15th and 17th holes. However, she secured a birdie on the final 18th hole (par 5) to look forward to the second round. She is three strokes behind the leader, laying the groundwork for her second career win seven years after her first victory at the 2016 Texas Shootout.

Pace showcased perfect play with five birdies and no bogeys. She is ranked 141st in the world and won once at the 2014 Blue Bay LPGA. Leona Maguire (Ireland), last week’s winner of the Meijer Classic, is eyeing back-to-back wins from the group tied for 6th. Rising star Rose Zhang (USA), who won her professional debut at the Mizuho Americas Open, is tied for 12th at 1-under-par 70.

Korea’s Choi Hye-jin, Lee Jeong-eun 6, and Ji Eun-hee are tied for 17th at even par 71. World No. 1 Ko Jin-young recorded five birdies, four bogeys, and one double bogey, finishing one over par and tied for 33rd at 72. Kim Sei-young, Yang Hee-young, and Park Sung-hyun are tied for 44th at 2-over-par 73, while defending champion Jeon In-ji is tied for 61st at 3-over-par 74. World No. 3 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) is tied for 61st, and No. 2 Nelly Korda (USA) struggled, tied for 106th at 5-over-par 76.

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