Third Major KPMG Women's PGA Championship Day 1: Salas Leads, Jeon In-ji Tied 10th, Ko Jin-young Tied 75th, Kim Sei-young Tied 93rd
Lee Jeong-eun 6 is making a bunker shot at the 6th hole on the first day of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship.
[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] Lee Jeong-eun6 (25, Daebang Construction) has made a refreshing start.
On the 25th (Korean time), at the Atlanta Athletic Golf Club in Johns Creek, Georgia, USA (par 72, 6,831 yards), the third major of the LPGA Tour season, the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship (total prize money $4.5 million), Lee Jeong-eun6 shot 3-under par on the first day to tie for 3rd place. Veteran Lizette Salas leads with 5-under par 67, and Charlie Hull (England) is in 2nd place at 4-under par 68, one stroke behind, in a close chase.
Lee Jeong-eun6 recorded five birdies and two bogeys. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), she exchanged two birdies and two bogeys over ten holes, struggling to lower her score. However, back-to-back birdies on holes 2 and 3 sparked momentum, and she reduced one more stroke at the 8th hole (par 4), joining the race for the championship. Her round was highlighted by a ‘stingy putting’ performance with only 26 putts. She is two strokes behind the leader, aiming for her second career win since the 2019 US Women’s Open major two years ago.
Lee Jeong-eun6 debuted on the Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour in 2016, winning Rookie of the Year. In 2017, she secured four wins, earning the ‘Money Queen’ title as well as becoming the first-ever six-time award winner including multiple wins, Player of the Year, and lowest scoring average. In 2018, she achieved the feat of ‘Money Queen for two consecutive years’ and topped the LPGA Tour Qualifying (Q) Series held over eight rounds in November, entering the US stage. She won the US Women’s Open in her debut year and was named Rookie of the Year.
Last year, due to COVID-19, she stayed in Korea and joined the LPGA Tour late, playing only six tournaments. This year, she has participated in 11 tournaments but has been somewhat underperforming with only one ‘Top 10’ finish. Her best result this season was 7th place at the HUGEL-Air Premia LA Open in April. Lizette Salas showed flawless play with five birdies and no bogeys. She debuted in 2012 and won once at the 2014 Kingsmill Championship.
Jessica Korda is tied for 3rd place, while Nelly Korda (both USA), ‘ANA Champ’ Patty Tavatanakit, and Ariya Jutanugarn (both Thailand) started comfortably tied for 10th place (2-under par 70). ‘US Women’s Open Champ’ Yuka Saso (Philippines) is tied for 39th place (1-over par 73), and Brooke Henderson (Canada) is tied for 63rd place (2-over par 74). From Korea, Jeon In-ji (27, KB Financial Group) and Choi Woon-jung (31, Volvik) are performing well, tied for 10th place.
‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bi (33, KB Financial Group) suffered a critical triple bogey but still managed five birdies (one bogey) to tie for 23rd place (1-under par 71). After her three consecutive wins from 2013 to 2015, she is in a position to aim for her fourth tournament win. ‘Number 1’ Ko Jin-young (26) is tied for 75th place (3-over par 75), defending champion Kim Se-young (28, Mediheal) and 2018 champion Park Sung-hyun (28) are tied for 93rd place (4-over par 76), and Kim A-rim (26, SBI Savings Bank) is tied for 110th place (5-over par 77).
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