Kim Hyo-joo Tied for 7th at 2 Shots Behind... Anannarukan Leads

Ford Championship 1R 7-Under Par Surge
Bu, Shiganda, Munoz and 5 Others Tied for 2nd
Koda and Shin Ji-eun Tied for 9th, Kim Sei-young 20th

World No. 9 Kim Hyo-joo has made a refreshing start.

Kim Hyo-joo is teeing off at the 7th hole during the first round of the Ford Championship. [Phoenix (USA) = AFP·Yonhap News]

On the 28th (local time), at the Sewell Golf and Country Club (par 72, 6,734 yards) in Gilbert, Arizona, USA, Kim shot a 7-under-par 65 in the first round of the LPGA Tour Ford Championship (total prize money $2.2 million), placing her in a tie for 7th. C?line Boutier (France) is also in this group. Parajit Anannarukarn (Thailand) took the lead with a daily best 9-under-par 63.

Kim Hyo-joo made eight birdies and one bogey. After birdies on the 3rd hole (par 4) and consecutive birdies on the 6th and 7th holes, she made a bogey on the 9th hole (par 4), finishing the front nine with 2-under. On the back nine, she picked up five birdies on holes 10, 13, 15, 16, and 18, improving her position. She achieved a 100% fairway hit rate and completed the round with 26 putts. She is two strokes behind the leader, aiming for her seventh career win, her first in five months since the Ascendant LPGA last October.

Anannarukarn made nine birdies, including five consecutive birdies. She debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2019 and has two wins. Five players, including world No. 2 Lilia Vu, Carlota Ciganda, and Azahara Mu?oz (all from Spain), are tied for second place at 8-under-par 64, chasing the lead. Nelly Korda (USA), who rose to world No. 1 after winning last week's Pure Silk Championship, is tied for 9th at 6-under-par 66. Alison Lee (USA) and Shin Ji-eun are also tied for 9th, while Kim Se-young and An Na-rin are tied for 20th at 5-under-par 67.