Gainbridge LPGA Day 1: 4-Under Par, Korda Tied 2nd, Kim Se-young Tied 41st, Park Sung-hyun and Sorensdam Tied 77th
Ko Jin-young is smiling before putting at the 11th hole on the first day of the Gainbridge LPGA. Orlando, Florida, USA = Getty Images / Multibits
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] ‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young (26) has made a fresh start.
On the 26th (Korean time), at the Lake Nona Golf Club (par 72, 6,701 yards) in Orlando, Florida, USA, the second event of the 2021 LPGA Tour season, the Gainbridge LPGA (total prize money $2 million), kicked off. Ko Jin-young shot 4-under par on the first day to tie for 4th place. Lydia Ko (New Zealand) leads with 7-under par 65, while Nelly Korda (USA) and Nanna Madsen (Denmark) are tied for 2nd at 5-under par 67, chasing the lead.
Ko Jin-young made five birdies and one bogey. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), she made consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th holes and another birdie on the 17th hole (par 3), reducing three strokes in the front nine. In the back nine, she birdied the 6th hole (par 3) but bogeyed the 7th hole, then immediately recovered with a birdie on the 8th hole (also par 4). She relied on highly accurate shots with a fairway hit rate of 71.4% and a greens in regulation rate of 83.3%. She is three strokes behind the leader and has a chance for her eighth career win since the CME Group Tour Championship in December last year.
Ko Jin-young debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2018 after winning the 2017 KEB Hana Bank Championship as a non-member and won the Rookie of the Year award. In 2019, she recorded four wins including two majors, sweeping Player of the Year, the Annika Major Award, the Vare Trophy, and the money title. She has held the top spot for one year and seven months since July 2019. She has greatly benefited from refining her fitness and swing in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do during the off-season.
Lydia Ko made an exciting run with one eagle and six birdies (one bogey). Since winning her 15th career title at the Mediheal Championship in April 2018, she has been in a nearly three-year title drought. Korda is chasing the leader by two strokes, joining the battle for the championship. ‘Former golf queen’ Annika Sorenstam (Sweden) returned to an official tournament after 12 years and 3 months but finished tied for 77th place (3-over par 75). ‘Former number 1’ Yani Tseng (Taiwan) is in last place, tied for 120th (9-over par 81).
Korea’s Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) and Choi Woon-jung (31, Volvik) are tied for 11th place (3-under par 69). Lee Jeong-eun 6 (25, Daebang Construction) is tied for 17th (2-under par 70), and Shin Ji-eun (29, Hanwha Q CELLS) is tied for 29th (1-under par 71). ‘Number 2’ Kim Se-young (28, Mirae Asset) exchanged two birdies for two bogeys and is tied for 41st place (even par 72). Park Sung-hyun (28) struggled with one birdie, two bogeys, and one double bogey, tied for 77th place.
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