'Buddy Show' Yoon In-a, KPMG Women's PGA Championship Day 1 Lowest Score: Solo Leader... Chasing First LPGA Victory

Este contenido ha sido traducido por IA.

Yoon In-a (23, Solare) took the solo lead on the first day of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total purse $13 million), the third major of the LPGA Tour season, held in the United States.

On the 26th (Korean time), Yoon In-a shot a 9-under-par 63 with nine birdies and no bogeys during the first round at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, USA (par 72).

Among the 156 players in the tournament, Yoon In-a posted the best score, announcing a strong start with a two-stroke lead over second-place Karise Davidson (Australia, 7-under-par 65) in solo first place.

Her condition from the first day was exceptional. The 63 strokes tie the lowest single-round score in the history of this tournament. She joins Patty Sheehan (1984), Meg Mallon (1999), Kelly Kuchar (2017), Kim Sei-young (2020), and Nelly Korda (2021) in this record. Among them, three players—excluding Mallon and Kuchar—won the tournament that same year, raising expectations for Yoon In-a to secure her first victory of the season.

After conquering the 2024 KLPGA Tour, Yoon In-a stepped onto the U.S. stage last year. In 26 tournaments she participated in, she missed the cut eight times and managed to finish in the top 10 only once.

This season, she has shown a completely different performance. In 11 tournaments, she has entered the top 10 four times, reaching as high as fourth place at the JM Eagle LA Championship, her personal best.

She created surprise from the start of the tournament. Starting at the 10th hole (par 4), Yoon In-a made four consecutive pars, then birdied the 14th hole (par 4) for her first birdie of the round. She also reduced her score on the 15th hole (par 5), followed by birdies on the 17th (par 3) and 18th holes (par 4).

In the back nine, she reduced her score on the 3rd hole (par 5), then made a long putt on the 4th hole (par 3) to build momentum with consecutive birdies. From the 6th hole (par 4), she embarked on a three-birdie streak. Displaying excellent putting form by sinking long putts, Yoon In-a made a sharp iron shot on the 8th hole (par 3) and secured another birdie. She finished the first day in solo first place by paring the final 9th hole (par 4).

After the round, Yoon In-a expressed satisfaction, saying, "I tried not to think about anything. I focused on what needed to be done and the process. I think I did really well in that regard."

Kim A-rim (31), the 2020 U.S. Women's Open champion, shot a 5-under-par 67 to tie for third place alongside Alex Noh (USA), while 'King without a Crown' Choi Hye-jin (27) started in a tie for fifth with a 4-under-par 68.

Rookie Lee Dong-eun (22) also started in the top ranks with a 3-under-par 69, tying for eighth place, while Yang Hee-young (37), who conquered this tournament in 2024, also finished in the same position. Five Korean players placed within the top 10.

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Este contenido ha sido traducido por IA.