Choi Hye-jin, 27 years old, started the first event of the LPGA (Ladies Professional Golf Association) Tour’s Asian swing in sole leadership.
Choi shot a 64 with eight birdies and no bogeys in the first round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai, held at Shanghai Sheshan Golf Club (par 72) in Shanghai, China, on October 15.
She leads by three strokes over second-place Carlota Ciganda (Spain), who recorded a 5-under 67.
Choi, who began on the 10th hole, made four birdies in the first nine holes and added four consecutive birdies from the 2nd to 5th holes in the back nine.
She missed the green six times for a 66.7% hitting accuracy but sank 22 putts. After the round, Choi said, “My physical condition wasn’t perfect, but I saved par a lot in the front nine, and long-distance putts also went in well afterward. The course was really tough, and I played hard, but I’m satisfied because I managed to save par with good putting even in situations where I thought I couldn’t.”
Choi, who debuted on the LPGA Tour in 2022, is challenging for her first win in her 124th tournament.
She has finished in the top 10 a combined 33 times but has yet to reach the top of the leaderboard.
Yang Hee-young shot a 3-under 69, tying for 7th place alongside last year’s champion, world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul (Thailand), among others. World No. 1 Nelly Korda (U.S.) and No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran did not participate.
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