(Photo credit score: Erik Williams-Imagn Images)
Weiwei Zhang used an eagle and a birdie on the ultimate two holes to card a 6-under 66 and transfer right into a three-way tie for the lead on the Blue Bay LPGA in Hainan, China, on Thursday.
Joining her on the prime of the leaderboard had been her Chinese compatriot, Mary Liu, and tour rookie Youmin Hwang of South Korea. Both girls performed a bogey-free spherical on the Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course.
China’s Zining An, American Auston Kim and Mi Hyang Lee of South Korea completed with rounds of 5-under 67 at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course to take a seat one shot again and tied for fourth.
Seven extra gamers are tied for seventh place after rounds of 68.
Liu, in her first LPGA Tour begin of the season, performed a gentle spherical, scattering six birdies.
‘My winter coaching went very nicely,’ she mentioned. ‘This 12 months, I’ve a clearer thought of what my priorities are. My coach additionally suggested me to stability work and relaxation. I even went dwelling for the Chinese New Year, which was very nice.’
And that optimistic angle carried over to the primary spherical.
‘I actually loved myself on the market,’ she mentioned. ‘I labored nicely with my caddie, and we maintained a very good rhythm all through the day.’
Zhang was delighted along with her spherical after navigating the ultimate two holes – the eagle and a birdie.
‘It was a very tough lie for the chip,’ she mentioned concerning the eagle. ‘I hit it a bit heavy, however the touchdown spot was excellent, and it rolled straight into the opening.’
And on the ultimate gap, it was an 11-yard chip that led to the birdie.
‘The final two holes had been notably thrilling,’ she mentioned. ‘That actually received me energized.’
Kim has some floor to make up. She was in rivalry final week in Singapore and completed in a tie for second.
‘I really feel like mentally, I’m up to the mark fairly often, extra typically. Put in a number of exhausting work over the offseason and actually cool to see it repay.
‘Overall my recreation is feeling OK. I really feel like final week, I did not actually have my A-game and at this time I did not actually have my A-game, however my quick recreation and placing is de facto saving me. I hit my irons higher at this time, too, so extra possibilities.’
Defending champion Rio Takeda of Japan is 5 strokes again. She is amongst 17 girls to report a spherical of 71.
–Field Level Media