Kim Hyoju's Excitement "Tied 2nd, 1 Stroke Behind"… Green Leads at 6 Under Par

Sponsor Tournament Lotte Championship Day 1 5 Under Par, Kang Hyeji Tied 7th, Defending Champ Lydia Ko Tied 11th

Kim Hyo-joo is teeing off at the 13th hole on the first day of the Lotte Championship. Photo by Daehong Communications

[Asia Economy Reporter No Woo-rae] World No. 13 Kim Hyo-joo (27, Lotte) is on a winning streak.

On the 14th (Korean time), at the Hoakalei Golf Club (par 72, 6,603 yards) on Oahu Island, Hawaii, USA, Kim shot 5-under par on the first day of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship (total prize money $2 million) and stood tied for 2nd place. Hannah Green (Australia) leads with 6-under par 66, followed by Aditi Ashok (India), Alison Lee (USA), Gemma Dryburgh (Scotland), and Jodi Ewart Shadoff (England) tied for 2nd place.

Kim Hyo-joo played flawlessly with five birdies and no bogeys. She made a birdie on the first hole, the 10th hole (par 4), consecutive birdies on the 13th and 14th holes, and another birdie on the 16th hole (par 4), reducing her score by 4 strokes in the front nine. In the back nine, she added one birdie on the 5th hole (par 5). She is one stroke behind the leader, aiming for her fifth career win, her first in a year since winning the HSBC Women's World Championship last May. She cheered, saying, "My putting was good," and "I will focus even more to win at the sponsor's tournament."

Haena Green is hugging her caddy after finishing the first day of the Lotte Championship in the lead. Hawaii (USA) == Getty Images / Photo by Multibits

Green dominated the leaderboard with eight birdies and two bogeys. She is a player who has won two career titles, including the 2019 major KPMG Women's PGA Championship and the Cambia Portland Classic. She is on the rise after finishing tied for 8th at the season's first major, the Chevron Championship, two weeks ago. Defending champion Lydia Ko (New Zealand) started comfortably tied for 11th place (3-under par 69). Brooke Henderson (Canada), the 2018 and 2019 champion, finished tied for 73rd (2-over par 74).

‘Chevron Champion’ Jennifer Kupcho (USA) also struggled, tied for 73rd. Danielle Kang (USA) withdrew after losing four strokes. From Korea, Kang Hye-ji (32) recorded five birdies and one bogey, tied for 7th place (4-under par 68). Rookie Choi Hye-jin (23, Lotte) and Choi Woon-jung (32, Volvik) are tied for 13th place (2-under par 70). ‘Golf Queen’ Park In-bee (34, KB Financial Group) collapsed with one birdie, seven bogeys, and one double bogey, finishing tied for 137th out of 144 players (8-over par 80).