Rookie Yoon Ina, veteran Chun In-gee sit 2 off opening-round lead at LPGA major

In this Getty Images photo, Yoon Ina of Korea plays a shot from the 15th tee during the second round of the Founders Cup presented by U.S. Virgin Islands 2025 at Bradenton Country Club in Bradenton, Florida, Feb. 7. AFP-Yonhap

Korean rookie Yoon Ina and three-time major champion Chun In-gee are both two strokes off the first-round lead at the final major tournament of the 2025 LPGA Tour season in Wales.

The two players shot a three-under 69 to begin the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl Golf Club in Porthcawl, Wales, on Thursday (local time).

Yoon, seeking her first career LPGA title, had five birdies against two bogeys. Chun, a four-time tour winner without a title since June 2022, had four birdies and one bogey.

They are in a 10-way tie for fourth place, with two Japanese players, Eri Okayama and Rio Takeda, sharing the lead at five-under on this par-72 course that played 6,570 yards on the first day.

Three of Chun's four LPGA wins have come at three different majors -- 2015 U.S. Women's Open, 2016 Evian Championship and 2022 KPMG Women's PGA Championship -- and a win in Wales will give her a career Grand Slam.

"When I started golf, I always wanted to be a good golfer. Now, I can try to reach the career Grand Slam. I think, from this position, I'm still very appreciative for everything," Chun said. "Just keep working hard, and hopefully, I can make it. Then it's going to feel very different. But what I can do is just keep playing good golf every day."

Yoon, a two-time Korean tour winner, has yet to deliver on her big promise in her first LPGA season, with zero top-10 finishes in 16 starts. She credited her solid opening day to her ability to avoid big numbers.

"There was a lot of crisis, but I made good saves. That's why I could go bogey-free on the back nine," she said. "I just focused on myself. There's a little wind out there. Just tried to keep it low, and it works. I just want to play like this."

Four Korean players shot two-under 70 to tie for 14th: six-time LPGA winner Amy Yang, 2023 Rookie of the Year Ryu Hae-ran, former major champion Kim A-lim and fourth-year pro An Narin.

Of this quartet, Ryu and Kim each have a title this season.

Among other Koreans, Kim Hyo-joo, the runner-up at the Women's Scottish Open last week, shot an even 72. She is tied for 51st alongside Lottie Woad, the Scottish Open champion.

This is the 20th LPGA tournament this season, and the previous 19 events all produced different winners.