Yang Hee-young "Starts at 1 Under Par"... '3 Consecutive Wins Challenge' Danielle Kang at Even Par

On the First Day of the Scottish Women's Open, Tied for 13th at 15 Holes, Larsen Leads at 4 Under Par, Jeon In-ji Even Par at 22nd

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Yang Hee-young (31, Woori Financial Group, photo) is off to a smooth start.

On the 14th (Korean time) at the Renaissance Golf Club in North Berwick, Scotland (par 71, 6,427 yards), the first day of the LPGA Tour Scottish Women's Open (total prize money $1.5 million), she reduced one stroke over 15 holes and stood tied for 13th place. Minjee Lee (Australia) is in the same group. Nicole Broch Larsen (Denmark) leads with 4-under 67, while Jennifer Song and Amy Olson (both USA), Azahara Mu?oz (Spain), and others are tied for second place at one stroke behind (3-under 68).

Due to bad weather, 27 out of 144 participants could not complete the first round. Yang Hee-young recorded two birdies and one bogey. She was sailing smoothly with birdies on the 9th and 12th holes but regrettably made a bogey on the last hole of the day, the 15th hole (par 4). She is three strokes behind the leader, a position from which a comeback is definitely possible. Yang Hee-young is synonymous with consistency. Since her debut in 2008, she has won four times and impressively entered the 'top 10' a total of 71 times.

After her first victory at the 2013 Hana Bank Championship, she made a splash by winning the Honda LPGA Thailand three times in 2015, 2017, and last year. This year, her best result was a tie for 15th at the Diamond Resorts Tournament in January. After finishing tied for 38th at last week's Marathon Classic, she boarded a flight to Scotland. Larsen swept up six birdies (two bogeys) to rise to the top of the leaderboard. She is a player who has yet to win on the LPGA Tour.

From Korea, Jeon In-ji (26, KB Financial Group) exchanged three birdies and three bogeys to tie for 22nd place (even par 71) alongside Lydia Ko (New Zealand). Son Yu-jeong (19) lost one stroke over 17 holes and is tied for 35th, while 2017 champion Lee Mi-hyang (27, both Volvik) is tied for 65th place (3-over 74). Kim In-kyung (32, Hanwha Q CELLS) is tied for 87th (4-over 75). Danielle Kang (USA), aiming for her third consecutive win, is watching for opportunities from tied 22nd place.