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Park Sung-hyun had the hot hand during the opening round of the 10th Hyundai
China Ladies Open on Friday when the South Korean fired a bogey-free round
of 64 to take a two-shot lead at the national championship at Mission Hills
Haikou.
Defending champion Kim Hyo-joo was tied for
second with South Korean compatriot Youn Sun-jeung at the US$550,000 tournament,
a co-sponsored event between the China LPGA Tour and the LPGA Tour of Korea
(KLPGA).
Zhang Weiwei was the top Chinese player after
a round of 67, tied for equal fourth with Korean Kim Bo-kyung and Chinese
Taipei’s Chen Meng-chu.
World No. 9 Chun In-gee, the top-ranked player
in the field, was five shots off the pace as the reigning US Women’s
Open champion shot a three-under 69 over the Mission Hills Haikou Blackstone
course.
Starting her round in the early morning,
the big-hitting Park, a three-time winner on the KLPGA this year, took
advantage of the dry conditions that emerged after the wet practice rounds
to register eight birdies, including five over the last six holes.
“Everything is a good. It’s a wonderful
day without bogeys. The weather is better, so we are able to hit longer
than in practice. I don’t think I lost distance. Normally my balls wouldn’t
roll much, so it’s OK out there,” said the Seoul native.
“There are a couple of par-five holes where
I can hit these greens in two. But today I made mistakes. Three birdies
from par-five holes are just up-and-down. Hopefully, I can improve this
part of my game.”
With many golf observers predicting the 22-year-old
Park to be the next great player to break out of South Korea onto the world
stage, she was quick to point out that it was only the first round and
there was still a lot of golf to play.
“I am happy that I am in a strong uptrend
this year. I was better than last year and I’m looking forward. I don’t
think I can be dominant force on the KLPGA Tour without Kim Hyo-joo and
Chun In-gee because the field is deep now. I have to muster all my strength
to contend for a win. I have played 28 official events, in addition to
some invitational events, but to my surprise I didn’t feel tired now.”
Kim, a two-time winner of the Hyundai China
Ladies Open, also had a bogey-free round in registering six birdies. Surprisingly,
the 20-year-old admitted she was intimidated by the 6,342-yard Blackstone
course.
“I was afraid of this golf course in the
pro-am because I felt it was too long for me. But with many downwind holes
out there today I had a good feeling and finally shot a good number. If
the next two days I can have two same rounds I will happy,” said the
world No. 10 who has won four times in China. “Every time I come here,
I have had a feeling that I can win again.”
With Korean players having dominated the
tournament in winning for nine consecutive years, the 18-year-old Zhang
gave the Chinese fans some hope when she put herself in the mix with five
birdies over her first nine holes after starting at the 10th hole.
“This golf course is like an old friend
to me. I have played it many times and I felt comfortable, said the rookie
pro. “I was consistent for the whole day. I hit 15 greens and just missed
three greens. I made all my birdies within 10 feet. It’s a great score,
especially in your hometown. Hopefully I can continue tomorrow.”
China’s He Muni was the top amateur as
the teenager opened with a round of 71.
The Hyundai China Ladies Open is the final
event of the 2015 China LPGA Tour season and the first event of the 2016
KLPGA Tour season.
The Mission Hills Haikou Blackstone course
is a 6,342-yard, par-72 layout designed by Schmidt-Curley.
Information form Mission Hills
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