▲ Kim Hyo-joo
Kim Hyo-joo, ranked 3rd in the world in women's golf, tied for 2nd place on the first day of her return to a domestic tournament after a two-month hiatus.
On Thursday, Kim shot a 6-under-par 66, featuring seven birdies and one bogey, in the first round of the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour Lotte Open held at Bear's Best Cheongna Golf Club in Incheon.
She made a strong start, sitting in a tie for 2nd place, just one stroke behind sole leader Park Ye-ji, who finished at 7-under-par.
Kim, who has secured two victories on the LPGA Tour this season to reach 9 career wins, also won the KLPGA Tour's NH Investment & Securities Ladies Championship back in May.
Park Ye-ji, who debuted on the regular tour in 2024 and is seeking her first professional victory, surged to a one-stroke lead after carding eight birdies and one bogey for a 7-under-par performance.
Hwang Yu-min, who is playing in a domestic tournament for the first time since her LPGA Tour debut this year, is tied for 2nd place alongside Kim Hyo-joo, Lee Se-hee, Moon Jung-min, and Lee Seung-yeon.
Hwang, a three-time KLPGA Tour winner, earned her LPGA Tour card by winning the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship held in Hawaii in October last year, and officially debuted on the U.S. stage as a rookie this year.
Hwang is currently leading the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year points race.
Kim Min-sol, who became the first player to reach three wins this season after her victory at the McCol-Mona Yongpyong Open last week and currently leads in prize money and Grand Prize points, finished the first round at 3-under-par, tied for 21st.
The tournament, which features a total purse of 1.2 billion won and a winner's prize of 216 million won, runs through this Sunday, July 5.
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