South Korean duo Ryu Hae-ran and Hong Ye-eun are tied for 11th place after the first day of the U.S. Women’s Professional Golf (LPGA) Tour’s team event.
The pair made four birdies and two bogeys in the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational ($2.7 million purse) at the par-70 Midland Country Club in Midland, Michigan on Tuesday.
The pair combined for a 2-under 68 and finished the first day in a tie for 11th place with Su Bin Joo (USA).
They are four strokes behind leaders Matilda Kastren (FIN) and Kelly Tan (MAL), who shot 6-under par.
The tournament is played in a foursome format with two players taking turns hitting one ball for rounds 1-3 and a four-ball format with each player hitting their own ball for rounds 2-4, with the better score counting as the team score.
This year’s rookie, Ryu Hae-ran, and second-year player, Hong Ye-eun, have yet to win on tour.
Ryu Hae-ran, who finished first in the LPGA Qualifying Series last December, will be looking for her first win here to solidify her lead in the rookie race.
Hong made her debut last year and her best finish was a tie for 10th at the BMW Ladies Championship in October.
Im Hyang and Lee Jung-eun are tied for 18th after carding a 1-under 69 with three birdies and two bogeys.
Kang Hye-ji Kang and Tiffany Chan (Hong Kong), who finished tied for fourth at this event last year, were tied for 30th (1-over par).
Lee Il-hee was tied for 38th (2-over par) with Gabriella Dan (USA) and Park Geum-kang was tied for 53rd (4-over par) with Yan Jing (CHN).
Korean-American Jane Park, returning to the tour after a two-year absence, was paired with “Pink Princess” Paula Creamer (USA) and finished the first day in a tie for 56th place (5-over par).
Last year’s runner-up in this event, Castren-Tan, led the way with six birdies without a bogey.
Celine Boutier (FRA)-Yuka Saso (JPN), Celine Borge (SWE)-Polly Mack (GER), and Paula Leto (SA) and Amelia Lewis (USA) are tied for second at 5-under.
World No. 12 Brooke Henderson (Canada) and No. 16 Lexi Thompson (USA) slipped to a tie for 46th at 3-over par. 토토사이트
