Yoon E-na fired a blistering round on the opening day of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship (total purse $13 million), the third major of the LPGA Tour season.
Yoon carded a 9-under 63 with nine birdies and no bogeys in the first round held Wednesday at Hazeltine National Golf Club (par 72) in Chaska, Minnesota. She holds the solo lead, two strokes ahead of second-place Karis Davidson of Australia.
It was the first time Yoon, who joined the LPGA Tour last year, has shot a 63. This year, she has competed in 11 events, making 10 cuts and recording four top-10 finishes, but has yet to win. Her best result this year was a fourth-place finish at the JM Eagle LA Championship.
In the first round of this tournament, which carries the largest purse in its history, Yoon's fairway accuracy was not strong, but she missed only three greens. She had particularly struggled with putting until now, but on this day she reduced her putts to 24.
Starting from the 10th hole, Yoon got going with four birdies on the front nine, then swept up five more birdies on the back nine. "It was the first time I shot 9-under on the LPGA Tour," Yoon said after the round. "I was so focused that I played without even realizing I had made nine birdies." She added, "There is still a long way to go, so I will wrap up today's round well and set my plan for the remaining rounds."
Kim A-rim finished the first day at 5-under (six birdies, one bogey). Nelly Korda of the United States, aiming for a third straight major title after winning the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open, shot a 2-under 70. Korda had been 4-under through the 15th hole, but was stalled by a double bogey at the 16th hole (par 4) after hitting her tee shot into the water.
