'Sponsorless' Somi Lee Marches Toward Major Victory

Third Place on Day One of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Thitikul Leads, Minjee Lee in Second, Hae Ran Ryu Tied for Third
Jeon Inji, Hwang Yoomin, Bang Shinsil, and Park Geumgang Tied for Seventh

Somi Lee, who currently has no sponsor, delivered a strong performance at a major tournament.

On June 19 (local time), at the Fields Ranch East Course (par 72, 6,596 yards) in Frisco, Texas, USA, Somi Lee shot a 2-under-par 70 in the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, the third major event of the LPGA Tour season with a total prize fund of $12 million, placing her in a tie for third. World No. 2 Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand) leads by one stroke at 4-under-par 68, while Minjee Lee (Australia) is in second place at 3-under-par 69.

Somi Lee is teeing off at the 6th hole in the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Frisco, USA - Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Somi Lee recorded three birdies and one bogey. Having joined the LPGA Tour last year, she has yet to claim a victory and has never finished in the top 10 at a major, but her strong showing on the first day of this tournament has given her an opportunity. Her fairway accuracy rate was 85.71%, and her greens in regulation rate was 83.33%, both notably high. She said, "I expected the wind to be strong, but it wasn't as much as I thought, so it was somewhat easier to play. On this course, tee shots and putting are crucial, so I focused on practicing those, which helped me finish at 2-under-par."

Hae Ran Ryu and Yealimi Noh (USA) are also tied for third, while Jeon Inji, the 2022 champion of this event, and Park Geumgang are tied for seventh at 1-under-par 71. Hwang Yoomin and Bang Shinsil, who play on the KLPGA Tour, also joined the group tied for seventh. Ji Eun Shin, Mi Hyang Lee, and Joo Subin finished the first round tied for 16th at even-par 72. World No. 1 Nelly Korda (USA) is also tied for 16th.