Kim Min-sol has laid the groundwork for a consecutive two-year victory at the Korea Women's Professional Golf (KLPGA) Tour HJ Heavy Industries & Construction-Dongbu Construction Championship.

Last year's tournament champion Kim Min-sol posted 15 points with eight birdies and one bogey in the first round of the tournament held at Aceone Country Club in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province.

This tournament, played under the modified Stableford format, awards 5 points for an eagle, 2 points for a birdie, 0 points for a par, -1 point for a bogey, and -3 points for a double bogey or worse.

Kim finished the first day tied for 3rd place, trailing co-leaders Choi Ye-bon and Han Ah-rum, who had 16 points, by just 1 point.

Also joining her in a tie for 3rd place are Park Hyun-kyung, who has eight career KLPGA Tour wins, and Kim Min-sun, who has secured two wins this season.

Kim Min-sol, who picked up her third win of the season at the McCol·Mona Yongpyong Open in June, had since struggled to add to her win tally, recording three runner-up finishes and one third-place finish.

Kim started smoothly by grabbing consecutive birdies from the 1st to the 3rd holes.

She dropped a point after missing a short par putt on the 8th hole, but immediately made up for it with a birdie on the 9th, and added three birdies without a bogey on the back nine.

Seo Gyo-rim, who has four wins this season and played in the same group as Kim Min-sol and Kim Min-sun, managed only 1 point with two birdies and three bogeys, slipping to a tie for 89th place.

(Photo provided by KLPGA, Yonhap News)