Yoo Hae-ran and Noh Seung-hee's Rookie Surge "Co-Leaders"... Choi Hye-jin 35th

Mekkol and Yongpyong Resort Open First Day 6 Under Par, Park Minji and Jeon Woori Tied 3rd One Stroke Behind, Kim Jihyun 5th in 'Chase'

Yoo Hae-ran is teeing off at the 2nd hole on the first day of the McCol and Yongpyong Resort Open. Photo by KLPGA

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] It is the surge of 'super rookie' Yoo Hae-ran (19, SK Networks).

On the first day of the KLPGA Tour McCol Yongpyong Resort Open (total prize money 600 million won) held on the 3rd at Birch Hill Golf Club in Pyeongchang-gun, Gangwon Province (par 72, 6,434 yards), she posted 6 under par to dominate the top of the leaderboard. Another rookie, Noh Seung-hee (19, Yojin Construction), joined this group. Park Min-ji (22, NH Investment & Securities) and Jeon Woo-ri (23, Korea Land & Trust) tied for 3rd place (5 under par 67), and as many as six players including Kim Ji-hyun (29, Hanwha Q CELLS) tied for 5th place, two strokes behind (4 under par 68).

Yoo Hae-ran showed perfect play by sweeping up six birdies without a single bogey. After scoring birdies on holes 4, 6, 8, and 10, she finished the round pleasantly with consecutive birdies on holes 17 and 18. Yoo Hae-ran is a 'veteran rookie' who surprisingly won the Jeju Samdasoo Masters last August as a recommended player. She debuted this year and has entered the top 10 three times, including runner-up at the E1 Charity Open. Leading the joint top today, she is expecting her second win in a year.

Noh Seung-hee also caught six birdies, signaling a 'rookie whirlwind.' Her best result so far is tied for 21st at last week's BC Card Hankyung Ladies Cup. Park Min-ji is chasing the joint lead by one stroke, aiming for revenge after finishing as runner-up last week. Lee So-young (23, Lotte), the current points leader and 2016 champion, started comfortably tied for 11th (3 under par 69). Kim Ji-young 2 (24, SK Networks), the 'BC Card Hankyung Ladies Cup champion,' is tied for 21st (2 under par 70).

Defending champion Choi Hye-jin (21, Lotte) made five birdies but also gave away four bogeys. She is tied for 35th (1 under par 71). 'LPGA Rookie of the Year' Lee Jeong-eun 6 (24, Daebang Construction) and 2018 champion Park Chae-yoon (26, Samchully) are struggling tied for 63rd (1 over par 73). 'Japan-based' Lee Bo-mi (32) and Yoon Chae-young (33) are tied for 76th (2 over par 74), Park Hyun-kyung (20, Korea Land & Trust) tied for 91st (3 over par 75), and Cho Ah-yeon (20, Volvik) is tied for 122nd (6 over par 78).