Rookie Kim Min-byeol takes early lead at MEDIHEAL-Hankook Ilbo Championship
Kim Min-byeol makes a second shot on the 18th hole at the Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, during the first round of the MEDIHEAL-Hankook Ilbo Championship, April 13. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon
By Kim Jeong-kyoo
A star was born at the MEDIHEAL-Hankook Ilbo Championship. Will anyone be able to catch Kim Min-byeol this week? The 19-year-old rookie shot a bogey-free 8-under 64 on Thursday to take the early lead in the first round of the championship. That was good for a three-shot advantage over her nearest competitors, Lee Joo-mi and Roh Seung-hui.
Rookie Kim made the turn at a two-under, rattling off two consecutive birdies on the 10th and 11th holes to vault up to four-under and into a three-way tie for second place, only one shot shy of Lee atop the leaderboard. Kim stuck a good approach on the par-5 12th, setting up a putt for a birdie. She rolled it into the cup to share the lead with the clubhouse leader, Lee Joo-mi, at five-under.
On the par-3 14th Kim's erratic tee shot found the rough on the right side of the green. But she made an up-and-down par with ease. She looked to have every weapon called for from driving to putting. All the more, she has a graceful swing that is smooth, fluid and powerful as well.
Kim hit a great approach near the pin on the par-4 15th, making the putt for a birdie. It was a dramatic moment in which a rookie took the sole lead on the opening day of the tournament. She wrote history.
All the better, she birdied the 16th and 17th holes to lead the field by three strokes with a hole to play. She rattled off six birdies on the back nine, which was unbelievable. She capped the last hole with a good par, putting on an inspiring show in the competition.
Meanwhile, Lee Joo-mi was absolutely on fire on the back nine. Starting early in the morning, she played some unbelievable golf on Thursday, displaying her great putting ability. She surged into an early lead courtesy of a blistering start with a sublime display of shot-making. Lee first broke into red numbers with a birdie on the second hole. Then, she made back-to-back birdies on the 11th and par-5 12th, taking the solo lead at three-under and one shot clear of her closest rival.
After sharing the lead with Park Hyun-kyung, Lee made her fourth birdie on the par-3 14th, grabbing the sole lead again. Soon after Park collected her 5th birdie on the 15th to catch her, Lee rattled off two consecutive birdies on the par-3 16th and par-4 17th holes to take an upright lead, leaving her closest rival two shots behind. However, she coughed up a stroke with a disappointing bogey on the final hole, leading the field with a single stroke. She finished her round early in the afternoon with many competitors on the field. Eventually, Lee shared a tie for second place with Roh Seung-hui, who carded a five-under with six birdies against a bogey.
Park Hyun-kyung started on the back nine, making the turn at one-under. After bogeying the first hole, she made three consecutive birdies on the par-3 third, par-4 fourth and par-5 fifth holes to share the lead with Lee Joo-mi at three-under. With her fifth birdie on the par-4 seventh hole, Park jumped to the top of the leaderboard at 4 under. She capped her last hole of the day with a good par to find her two shots shy of the leader at 6-under. She wrapped up the opening day of the championship with a four-under 68, taking fourth place.
Park Min-ji, Ha Min-song, Lee Ga-young and Park Do-eun are among those well off the pace after the first round.
Defending champion Park Ji-young hit an even-par 72 with three birdies against three bogeys.
The author (kimjstar@hanmail.net) lives in a rural village near Seoul, studying and teaching golf.
Kim Min-byeol reads the green on the 18th hole during the first round of the MEDIHEAL-Hankook Ilbo Championship, April 13, at at Ferrum Club in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon