‘Wolyo Yesun’ Im Miyang "6-Under Par Lead"... Kim Hyoju Tied for 2nd Place

LPGA Tour DIO Implant LA Open Round 1
Korda 7th, Ko Jin-young 47th, Lydia Ko 63rd

Imi-hyang Lee is on a winning streak after the 'Monday qualifier.'

On the 30th (local time), Imi-hyang Lee shot a 6-under-par 65 in the first round of the LPGA Tour's DIO Implant LA Open (total prize money $1.75 million) held at Palos Verdes Golf Club (par 71, 6,447 yards) in Palos Verdes Estates, California, USA, taking the top spot on the leaderboard. Hyo-joo Kim and Megan Kang (USA) are tied for second place (5-under-par 66), and defending champion Nasa Hataoka (Japan) is tied for fourth place (4-under-par 67).

Im Hyang is aiming at the target point on the 17th hole of the first round of the Dio Implant LA Open. [Palos Verdes Estates, USA = AP·Yonhap News]

Imi-hyang Lee collected six birdies without any bogeys. She started with a birdie on the 4th hole, followed by consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes, and then made 'stepping stone birdies' on the 9th and 11th holes, creating great momentum. She added another birdie on the final 18th hole (par 4) to take the lead. She relied on her 'piercing iron shots' with a 100% green hit rate. Lee entered this tournament through the Monday qualifier. Leading by one stroke, she has a chance to claim her third career victory, her first in over six years since winning the Scottish Women's Open in July 2017.

Hyo-joo Kim joined the competition for the title by making six birdies (one bogey). Jessica and Nelly Korda (USA) sisters and Charley Hull (England) are tied for seventh place (3-under-par 68), chasing closely. Lilia Vu (USA), winner of the Honda LPGA Thailand, Georgia Hall (England), and Patty Tavatanakit (Thailand) are tied for 12th place (2-under-par 69).

Korea's Hye-jin Choi and Un-jung Choi are tied for 19th place (1-under-par 70), and Anna Lin started tied for 30th place (even par 71). World No. 3 Jin-young Ko made two birdies but also three bogeys, tying for 47th place (1-over-par 72) along with Sei-young Kim and Sung-hyun Park. World No. 1 Lydia Ko (New Zealand) is struggling at tied 63rd place (2-over-par 73). In-je Chun withdrew from the tournament.