Natthakritta Vongtaveelap eagled the par-5 fifth and closed with a birdie in fading gentle on the par-3 ninth for a 6-under 66 and a share of the first-round lead Wednesday within the LPGA Tour’s LOTTE Championship.
Vongtaveelap had a bogey-free spherical at windy Hoakalei Country Club to hitch fellow afternoon starter Frida Kinhult atop the leaderboard.
Vongtaveelap is making her second LPGA Tour begin. In February, the 20-year-old Thai participant gained her first two occasions as professional on the Thai LPGA Tour, then was second behind Lilia Vu within the LPGA Thailand in her debut on the large tour.
Kinhult completed with a bogey on the No. 9, the 23-year-old Swede’s lone blemish within the troublesome circumstances.
“Just tried to stay patient out there shot by shot for real in this wind,” Kinhult mentioned. “A lot of the math in my head, so probably going to fall asleep pretty good tonight. Super happy with the start and pumped for the rest of the week.”
The former Florida State participant was 5 below on a seven-hole stretch from No. 17 to No. 6, with three of the 5 birdies approaching par 5s.
“It was very solid. Nothing crazy really happened,” Kinhult mentioned. “Just throughout the day, tried to hit some fairways, and then I think I hit most greens, which is helpful in this wind.
Defending champion Hyo Joo Kim was at 68 with fellow morning starters Nasa Hataoka and Bailey Tardy and afternoon player Yu Jin Sung.
Kim had eight birdies and four bogeys.
“The putter worked really well and that lead to a low score,” Kim mentioned. “Swings were good. I actually made a lot of mistakes, but I had the thought that I should make more birdies to cover for that.”
Hinako Shibuno, the Japanese participant who was second final yr, was 6 below earlier than hitting into the water on the and making a triple-bogey 7 on the sixth gap. She parred the ultimate three for a 69.
“I had no strategy that much, but I wanted to just be a friend with the wind,” Shibuno mentioned.” I attempted.”
Brooke Henderson, at No. 7 the highest-ranked participant within the subject, opened with a 71. The Canadian is the one a number of winner in match historical past, taking the 2018 and 2019 titles at Ko Olina.
“It’s extremely windy out there, which makes this golf course really challenging,” Henderson mentioned. “So, it was kind of tough to not make bogeys out there. I think the only way to really counter is just to make a bunch of birdies.”
The Chevron Championship, the primary main championship of the yr for girls, is subsequent week in Houston.