South Africa’s Ashleigh Buhai shared the lead after the first round of the LPGA Tour’s BMW Ladies Championship in South Korea.
Buhai, South Korea’s Jenny Shin and Australia’s Hannah Green all posted rounds of eight-under 64 that featured eight birdies and no bogeys.
Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko is three shots off the lead after shooting five birdies and no bogeys at Seowon Valley Country Club.
Ko, the 2022 champion, said she was satisfied after a “solid” start.
“I didn’t really put myself in that many difficult positions,” said Ko, who also won the LPGA Queen City Championship in Los Angeles last month. “This is kind of a golf course where if you hit the ball well, you can set up and give yourself a lot of birdie opportunities.”
Ko, who was born in South Korea before moving to New Zealand when she was four, said she also “left a lot of putts out there”.
“But I think it’s because I hit like 16 or 17 greens,” she added. “So it’s always a good place to be at, and just overall a good start to this event.”
Defending champion Minjee Lee matched Ko with a five-under round.
Green, the world No 8, said it was “nice to play some simple golf”.
“Last week in China I just had a very mixed scorecard, made some bigger numbers, and just to go bogey-free was really nice but it also helps when you hit 18 greens,” she said. “I think I only missed one fairway.”
South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran was one shot behind the leading pack after a 65.
American Lilia Vu, ranked No 2 in the world, finished the day one-under par.
Two-time Major winner Yuka Saso was at three under.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
