Inbee Park Leads "I Like Singapore"... Hee Young Park 2nd by One Stroke

HSBC Women's World Championship Day 1: 8 Under Par, So Yeon Ryu and Hyo Joo Kim Tied 3rd at 5 Under, Jin Young Ko Tied 28th at 1 Under

Park In-bee is teeing off at the 1st hole on the first day of the HSBC Women's World Championship. Sentosa (Singapore) = Getty Images / Multibits

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] The "Golf Queen" Park In-bee (33, KB Financial Group) is on a winning streak.

On the 29th, at the Tanjong Course (par 72, 6718 yards) of Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore, she shot 8 under par on the first day of the LPGA Tour HSBC Women's World Championship (total prize money $1.6 million), dominating the top of the leaderboard. Park Hee-young (34, Isu Group) is in 2nd place (7 under par, 65 strokes), while five players including Yoo So-yeon (31, Mediheal), Kim Hyo-joo (26, Lotte), Sophia Popov, Karoline Manson (both from Germany), and Lin Xiyu (China) are tied for 3rd place (5 under par, 67 strokes).

Park In-bee boasted a perfect play with 8 birdies and no bogeys. She reduced 4 strokes in the front nine with "stepping stone birdies" on holes 3 and 5 and consecutive birdies on holes 7 and 8. In the back nine, she continued her momentum with birdies on holes 10 and 13, followed by consecutive birdies on holes 16 and 17. Leading by 1 stroke, this marks her second win of the season and 22nd career victory, one month after winning the Kia Classic last month. Park In-bee started the season early to defend her Olympic gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics this August.

She has participated in four tournaments this year, entering the top 10 three times including one win. Her worst result was a tie for 15th place at last week's Hugel-Air Premia LA Open. She ranks first in average score (68.56), third in the CME Globe Race (1005 points), and fourth in both earnings ($495,995) and Player of the Year points (50). Above all, she has fond memories of winning this tournament in 2015 and 2017. She cheered, saying, "My putting was good."

Among Koreans, Park Hee-young collected one eagle and six birdies (one bogey). Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction) and Yang Hee-young (32, Woori Financial Group) are also aiming to climb the ranks from a tie for 8th place (4 under par, 68 strokes). No. 1 Ko Jin-young (26) recorded three birdies and two bogeys, tied for 28th place (1 under par, 71 strokes). On the other hand, 2019 champion Park Sung-hyun (28) struggled with one birdie, five bogeys, and one double bogey, sitting at the bottom in 69th place (6 over par, 78 strokes), facing a tough path ahead.