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| Inbi Park. (AFP = Yonhap News) |
Park In-bi took the lead in the first round of the 2021 season’s American Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour KIA Classic (total prize money of $1.8 million), catching 6 birdies without a look.
Park In-bi hit 6 under par 66 in the first round of the tournament held at Aviara Golf Club (par 72) in Carlsbad, California, USA on the 26th (Korean time), and was ranked at the top of the leader board.
Park In-bi, whose first appearance in this season’s LPGA tour competition, showed the best feeling in both tee shots, iron shots, and putts.
Park In-bi, who started from hole 1 and caught the first birdie in the 3rd hole (par 3), ended the first half by catching a birdie in the 9th hole (par 4) and reducing 2 strokes.
In the second half, Inbi Park’s concentration was scary. Park In-bi, who caught a birdie on the 10th hole (par 5) and caught a birdie for two holes in a row, took the stepping stone birdie on the 12th hole (par 4) and the 14th hole (par 3), followed by the 17th hole (par 5). He added a birdie in the game and took the lead.
Park In-bi defended the fairway in 11 holes out of 14 tee shots on this day, and showed a feeling of being drawn from 15 holes out of 18 greens. And he recorded 27 putts to show his concentration on the green.
With this, Park In-bi showed a pleasant start to win 21 wins in 13 months after winning 20 wins on the LPGA Tour at the Australian Women’s Open in February last year.
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| Hyojoo Kim. (AFP = Yonhap News) |
Kim Hyo-joo, who started this season’s LPGA tour by participating in this tournament, hit 5 under par 67 with 8 birdies and 3 bogies on this day, ranking 2nd behind Park In-bi.
Kim Hyo-joo was dedicated to the Korean Women’s Professional Golf (KLPGA) tour due to Corona 19 last year, winning 2 wins and ranking first in the prize money and average at-bats, filling a sense of confidence.
Kim Hyo-joo left for the US to participate in this season’s LPGA tour last week and prepared for this tournament. On this day, he showed ups and downs in the tee and iron shots and was anxious, but he entered the leading competition by recording 27 putts, reducing 5 strokes.
Jeon In-I, who was named in the’Top 10′ in all three LPGA Tour tournaments held earlier this season, tied for third place by catching 4 birdies and hitting 4 under par 68 strokes without seeing it that day. All-in-one wasn’t satisfied with the tee shots and iron shots, but he went through the crisis with 27 putts and played an unprecedented game.
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| Jeoninji. (AFP = Yonhap News) |
Yang Hee-young hit a 3-under-par 69, placing a tie for 7th, creating a foothold in the lead competition.
World Women’s Golf Ranking No. 1 Ko Jin-young hits 1 under par 71 with Ji Eun-hee and Heo Mi-jung at 17th place, and world ranking 2nd place Kim Se-young with even par 72 hits, tied for 29th with Lee Mi-hyang.
Kim A-lim, who won the US Women’s Open at the LPGA Tour major competition in December last year, only grabs one birdie on this day, and hits a 6-over par with 78 strokes with one double bogie and five bogies, making it a tie for 128th out of 144 players. Kim A-rim, whose participation in this tournament is the official debut of the LPGA tour, had a harsh first day before his debut, hitting a 6-over par on this day.
After 1 year and 9 months, Korean-American Michelle, who returned to the field, was 142nd with a 9-over par 81 on the West.
Reporter Oh Hak-yeol [email protected]
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