Kim Seyoung's Birdie Show... Exciting 7-Under Round

Tied for Second in Round 1 of the JM Eagle LA Championship
Iwai Leads; Choi Woonjung and Park Geumgang Tied for Fifth
Kim Hyojoo, Lee Mihyang, and Yoon Ina Share 26th Place

It was a refreshing start for Kim Se-young.

On April 16 (local time), at the El Caballero Country Club (par 72, 6,679 yards) in Los Angeles, California, Kim Se-young swept up eight birdies (with one bogey) in the first round of the LPGA Tour JM Eagle LA Championship, which has a total prize fund of 3.75 million dollars. Kim Se-young carded a 7-under-par 65, placing her in a tie for second, two strokes behind Chisato Iwai of Japan, who shot a 9-under-par 63.

Se Young Kim is making an approach shot at the 8th hole during the first round of the JM Eagle LA Championship. Los Angeles=AFP Yonhap News Photo

Kim Se-young made back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 13th holes, then took a short breather with a bogey on the 14th (par 4). She rebounded with consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes, and added another birdie on the 18th (par 4), reducing her score by four strokes on the front nine. She then added three more birdies on holes 5, 7, and 9, joining the race for the championship.

On this day, Kim Se-young powered her play with an impressive average drive of 300 yards and precise iron shots, missing only one green in regulation. It is a great opportunity for her to secure her 14th career victory, coming six months after her last win at the BMW Ladies Championship in October last year.

Choi Woonjung and Park Geumgang are tied for fifth at 6-under-par 66. Lim Jinhui is tied for 14th at 5-under-par 67, while Kim Hyojoo, Lee Mihyang, and Yoon Ina are tied for 26th at 4-under-par 68.

This tournament serves as a prelude to the season's first major, the Chevron Championship, which kicks off on April 23. World No. 1 and No. 2, Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand and Nelly Korda of the United States, are not participating.

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