Shin Ji-eun, Choi Hye-jin, Sung Yoo-jin, Ji Eun-hee "This Is Our Home Court"

BMW Ladies Championship 1R Leading Group
Shin Ji-eun, Green, Buhai Excited at 8 Under Par
Choi Hye-jin, Sung Yu-jin, Ji Eun-hee Chase at 6 Under Par

Korean players showed their strength on their 'home turf.'

Shin Ji-eun

On the 17th, Shin Ji-eun fired an 8-under-par 64 in the first round of the BMW Ladies Championship (total prize money $2.2 million), the only LPGA Tour event held in Korea, at the Seowon Hills Course (par 72, 6,680 yards) of Seowon Valley CC located in Paju. She topped the leaderboard. Hannah Green (Australia) and Ashleigh Buhai (South Africa) are also in this group.

The tournament features a total of 78 players, including 68 LPGA Tour players, 8 special invitees, and 2 amateur prospects. The winner will be decided over four days and 72 holes of stroke play without a cut.

Shin Ji-eun collected 8 birdies without a single bogey. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), she made 4 birdies on the front nine and 4 more on the back nine. Her accuracy stood out, boasting a 100% fairway hit rate. She missed the green only once. Leading the group by one stroke, she laid the groundwork for her second career victory since winning the Texas Shootout in America.

Korea’s Yoo Hae-ran is in 4th place (7-under-par 65), while Choi Hye-jin, Sung Yu-jin, and Ji Eun-hee are tied for 5th (6-under-par 66), mounting a chase. Kim Hyo-joo, Kim A-lim, and Lee Jeong-eun 6 started comfortably in a tie for 11th place (5-under-par 67). Paris Olympic gold medalist Lydia Ko (New Zealand) and defending champion Minjee Lee (Australia) also joined the group tied for 11th.