2 Koreans sit 2 back of opening-round lead at LPGA major

Ryu Hae-ran, Korean golf player, tees off on the 14th hole during the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas, Thursday, in this Getty Images photo. Yonhap

Two Korean players are two strokes off the lead after the opening round of the third LPGA major of the season.

Ryu Hae-ran and Lee So-mi each shot two-under 70 to tie for third at the start of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship at Fields Ranch East at PGA Frisco in Frisco, northeast Texas, on Thursday (local time). The par-72 course played at 6,596 yards in the first round.

Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand is alone at the top after carding a 68, one stroke ahead of Korean Australian Minjee Lee.

Ryu, the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year, has won three times on the U.S. circuit, including once this year. She had four birdies and two bogeys Thursday after hitting 12 of 14 fairways and reaching 17 greens in regulation.

"It was a pretty good round today," Ryu said. "This golf course is too hard to make some birdies, and so I just kept (hitting) fairways and greens, and just wanted to make easy pars. I'm really excited now."

Lee, who moved to the U.S. last year after winning five times on the KLPGA Tour, is seeking her first LPGA win. She had three birdies against one bogey in the first round in Frisco.

"I expected a lot of wind today, but actually there wasn't a lot of wind. So that made it a little bit easier for me today," Lee said. "On this course, tee shots and putting are very important. I'm focusing on keeping my routine and just playing as usual."

Four Korean players shot one-under 71, including Chun In-gee, the 2022 champion, and two KLPGA players, Hwang You-min and Bang Shin-sil.

Chun, who had four birdies against three bogeys after starting on the back nine, has not won an LPGA event since that 2022 title.

"I'm really happy to finish under par today because my golf was not pretty," said Chun, who missed only one fairway but hit just 12 of 18 greens in regulation. "I'm trying to be patient and trying to stick to the game plan. I think it's a good start."

Chun, who counts three major titles among her four LPGA wins, said she was pleased with the closing birdie on the par-5 ninth hole.

"I think I can take more confidence to tomorrow from the birdie from the last hole," she said. "I think all the players always like to finish with a birdie on the last hole."

Among other notable Korean players, Amy Yang, the defending champion, shot four-over 76 in the first round. Ko Jin-young, former world No. 1, put up a 74 after bogeying three of her final five holes.