Kim Hyoju "This Time It's My Turn"... 'Leading by 2 Shots'
Ascendant LPGA 1R 7-Under Par Surge
Korea Eyes 2 Consecutive Wins Following Last Week's Yu Hae-ran
Munoz 2nd, Shin Ji-eun 7th, Lee Jeong-eun 6 32nd
Kim Hyo-joo is on the march to victory.
![Kim Hyo-joo is reading the putting line on the 9th hole during the first round of the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting VOA. [The Colony, USA = AFP·Yonhap News]](http://www.asiae.co.kr/news/img_view.htm?img=2023100609220797299_1696551727.jpeg)
Kim Hyo-joo is reading the putting line on the 9th hole during the first round of the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting VOA. [The Colony, USA = AFP·Yonhap News]
View original imageOn the 5th (local time), she fired a 7-under-par 64 in the first round of the Ascendant LPGA Benefiting VOA (total prize money $1.8 million) held at Old American Golf Club (par 71, 6,475 yards) in The Colony, Texas, USA, dominating the top of the leaderboard.
Kim Hyo-joo swept up 8 birdies (1 bogey), including 4 consecutive birdies. Leading by 2 strokes, she seized the opportunity for her 6th career win after 1 year and 6 months since the Lotte Championship in April last year. Korea is aiming for back-to-back victories for 2 weeks following Yoo Hae-ran’s win at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship last week.
Azahara Mu?oz (Spain) is tied for 2nd place (5-under-par 66), while Sarah Kemp (Australia) and Marina Alex (USA) are tied for 5th place (4-under-par 67) in pursuit. Three-time winner C?line Boutier (France) and Hannah Green (Australia) are tied for 10th place (2-under-par 69), and Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) and Leona Maguire (Ireland) are tied for 24th place (1-under-par 70). Lexi Thompson (USA) is tied for 32nd place (even par 71), and defending champion Charley Hull (England) is tied for 51st place (1-over-par 72).
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Korea’s Shin Ji-eun started fresh, tied for 7th place (3-under-par 68). She is aiming to return to the top after 7 years since her first LPGA Tour win at this tournament in 2016. Shin Ji-eun is on an upward trend after finishing tied for 3rd last week. Lee Jeong-eun 6 is tied for 32nd place, Yoo So-yeon, Kim A-rim, Lee Il-hee, Lee Jeong-eun 5, and Jang Hyo-jun are tied for 51st place, and Jeon In-ji is tied for 95th place (3-over-par 74).
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