Cavan’s Leona Maguire put together a two-under-par first round at the BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea to see the 30-year-old head into round two in T42.
With three birdies and three bogeys coming on the first 6 holes, Maguire did well to settle herself and to make birdie on the eighth to take the turn at one-under.
Two birdies came on the back nine as Maguire took advantage of the 13th and 17th holes but the two time LPGA winner will be disappointed to have made bogey on the last to post 70 at Pine Beach Golf Links.
The top of the leaderboard sees South Korea’s Sei Young Kim take the 18-hole-lead as the 32-year-old posted a bogey free 10-under par round which saw eight birdies and an eagle.
Kim found a different gear as she closed out the back nine, going five-under through nine holes and the Korean took that momentum into the back nine to take a well deserved lead.
Also posting a bogey free round was Hyo Joo Kim who holds solo second heading into round two at nine-under. USA’s Lindy Duncan sits just behind Hyo Joo Kim at eight-under.
Rio Takeda shot 65 and was in a group tied for fourth. Canadian Brooke Henderson shot a five-under 67 while American Lucy Li, who had a hole-in-one on the par-3 13th and won a car, had a 68.
Jeeno Thitikul last week became the first multiple winner on the LPGA this season with a five-hole playoff win in Shanghai over Minami Katsu, who shot 68 Thursday in South Korea. Thitikul is not playing this week but will be part of Thailand’s team in the International Crown next week.
Leaderboard.
