(Photo credit score: Erik Williams)
South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi rattled off 4 birdies in a row on the again 9 and added one other at No. 18 to share the first-round lead with Japan’s Minami Katsu at The Annika on Thursday in Belleair, Fla.
Choi and Katsu are one stroke forward of Lindy Duncan, who had a hole-in-one on the par-3 third, whereas alone in fourth is World No. 1 Nelly Korda at 7-under 63.
Both Choi and Katsu stayed bogey-free whereas compiling 9 birdies at Pelican Golf Club. The key to Choi’s spherical was making 17 of 18 greens in regulation.
‘I believe for those who miss the inexperienced on this course it is going to be actually troublesome and it is exhausting to make a very good par save,’ Choi stated, ‘however I actually saved on the greens so I made a bogey-free spherical.’
Katsu, in the meantime, hit an ideal 14 of 14 fairways however missed 5 greens in regulation. She efficiently scrambled each time.
Choi is No. 7 within the Race to the CME Globe factors checklist and Katsu entered the week No. 28. However they end, they’re each assured of constructing subsequent week’s CME Group Tour Championship, whose subject will include the highest 60 gamers within the factors race.
Both ladies are after one thing else: their first win on the LPGA Tour. Although they’re excessive up on this planet rankings, all of Katsu’s skilled wins have are available in her native Japan and Choi’s on the LPGA of Korea Tour.
‘I nonetheless have three rounds to play so I’m going to simply carry on doing my work,’ Choi stated.
The CME Globe stakes are extra quick for Duncan, who’s 74th within the standings and projected to shoot as much as No. 46 if present outcomes maintain.
‘I imply, felt like I had nothing to lose,’ Duncan stated. ‘I used to be coming off 4 weeks in Asia so a bit of bit drained, however I do know I’ve been enjoying properly, so simply go on the market and provides it my all and see what occurs.’
Duncan went out in 6-under 29 thanks to 5 birdies, one bogey and the ace. She practically had a second hole-in-one on the par-3 ninth, the place her tee shot settled about 3 ft from the cup.
‘The begin was unbelievable. I’ve by no means been 4 beneath by means of three, that is for positive,’ stated Duncan, who used a 6-iron on the 160-yard third gap. ‘And a birdie on the second gap is all the time fairly good as a result of that is a tricky gap. So, I imply, to make that hole-in-one, it was simply wild. I’ve so many household and buddies out watching they usually have been going loopy.’
Korda, who stayed bogey-free and made 5 of her seven birdies on the entrance 9 Thursday, can be in search of her second Race to the CME Globe season-long title subsequent week after capturing her first in 2024.
She’s already wrapped up a unique award, the Rolex Player of the Year.
‘The accolades are nice,’ Korda stated. ‘I’m honored to even be in that place. Honored to be the Player of the Year. What drives me is the aggressive match that I’m in at present. Like I wish to do the very best that I presumably can the place I at present am. After that, all the pieces else is out of my management.’
Defending champion Linn Grant of Sweden opened with a 2-under 68.
–Field Level Media