Defending Champion Kim Juhyung 3 Under Par... 'Smooth Start'

Schriners Childrens Open 1R Tied 21st
Hossler Leads, Champ and Poston Tied 2nd
Lee Kyounghoon 30th, Kim Siwoo and Thompson Tied 76th

Defending champion Kim Joo-hyung had a steady start.

The 'PGA crowd-puller' Kim Joo-hyung posted a 3-under 68 in the first round of the PGA Tour Shriners Children's Open (total prize money $8.4 million) held on the 12th (local time) at TPC Summerlin (par 71, 7,225 yards) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, placing him in a tie for 21st. Bo Ho-sler leads with 9-under 62, while Cameron Champ and J.T. Poston (both from the USA) share second place at 8-under 63. Some players were unable to complete their rounds due to sunset.

Kim Joo-hyung is teeing off at the 5th hole during the first round of the Shriners Children's Open. [Las Vegas, USA = AFP·Yonhap News]

Kim Joo-hyung recorded five birdies and two bogeys. He made consecutive birdies on holes 3 and 4 but lost them with consecutive bogeys on holes 7 and 8. Afterwards, he secured three birdies on holes 9, 11, and 14. His long drives reached up to 341 yards, and his fairway hit rate of 78.57% stood out. Although he landed in greenside bunkers twice, he successfully saved both times, and his putting average per hole was a solid 1.75. He is six strokes behind the leader, and with three days remaining, he is in a position to aim for his second consecutive tournament win and his third career victory.

From Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon combined five birdies and three bogeys to tie for 30th place at 2-under 69. Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Kim Si-woo is tied for 76th at 1-over 72, and rookie Kim Sung-hyun is tied for 96th at 2-over 73. Lexi Thompson, a long hitter from the U.S. LPGA Tour who entered as an invited player, lost one stroke with three birdies, two bogeys, and one double bogey through the 16th hole (par 5), placing her in the group tied for 76th.

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