Playing in the final group out, I.K. Kim birdied four of her final five holes, including dropping a 12-footer as the sun went down to take a two-shot lead after round one of the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY.
“It was getting really dark. It’s dinnertime really. Everybody needs to go home,” Kim joked with the media after her round.
Kim, who started on the back-9, didn’t get off to the best start to her round and was sitting at one-over through three holes before tallying a birdie at the par-5 13th. Birdies at 15 and 16 allowed Kim to turn at 2-under, 34 and set up the late charge that allowed her to come home in 5-under, 31.
“I don’t know really,” Kim said when asked about what keyed her success during the round. “Just one shot at time, I guess.”
Chasing Kim will be Na Yeon Choi, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim who are all at 5-under and a pack of golfers that sit at 3-under including past LPGA winners Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Beatriz Recari, Hyo Joo Kim and Mirim Lee.
Numbers to know
4/5 - I.K. Kim birdied four of her final five holes to take the lead
5 - South Koreans - I.K. Kim, Sei Young Kim, Inbee Park, Na Yeon Choi and Jenny Shin - occupy the top-5 spots on the leaderboard after day one
23 - 23 players are within five strokes of the lead
Some relaxing and not so relaxing times for NYC
Over the past few weeks, Na Yeon Choi has had some relaxing and not so relaxing moments outside of the ropes. It started last week when the LPGA took an off-week following the season’s first Major, the ANA Inspiration.
“I stayed in California for a week and I just relaxed there,” Choi said. “Got massage and shopping, just walk around Beverly Hills, Santa Monica.”
Choi then flew out to Hawaii and added to the relaxing atmosphere by staying with some friends in Hawaii.
“I have some friends in Hawaii and they came here rooting for me. I quite enjoyed it,” Choi said. “Actually, she rented a house here for me, so I stay in there. She cooked some Korean food for me. It feels nice. Feels like home.”
The relaxation translated into Choi’s game on Monday as she finished up with a 5-under, 67.
“I think this is the first time I really relaxed on the course this year, so I think that’s why I played well,” Choi said. “I really enjoyed it. I don’t know why, but just this area just make me kind of chill out and relax.”
One thing that wasn’t so relaxing for Choi is when her friends were able to convince her to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new.
“We went skydiving on Saturday,” Choi said. “I went on the plane. I went up like 14,000 feet, but I couldn’t jump out. I was so scared. So I kind of failed, but my friend, she jumped out.”
When asked after the round what was easier golf or skydiving Choi, who admits to being afraid of heights, smiled and said “I think golf is easier.”
Wie and Miyazato pace past champions group
The three past champions of the LOTTE Championship presented by HERSHEY - Ai Miyazato (2012), Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Michelle Wie (2014) - were paired together for the first round of this years event. After day one, Miyazato and are 2-under while Pettersen is even.
“We didn’t really talk about that much,” Wie said of the group all being former champions. “But I love playing with Ai, and I’m really good friends with Suzann. It was a fun round today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning.”
The trio will tee off at 7:44 a.m. local time tomorrow.
Hurst wds
Vicky Hurst has withdrawn from the LOTTE Championship due to a wrist injury.
Quote of the Day
“It just feels really fun. I felt this every year that I come back. The support is just so amazing. I feel very blessed, and I hope more people come out on the weekend.”
-Michelle Wie on the fans at the LOTTE Championship
“It was getting really dark. It’s dinnertime really. Everybody needs to go home,” Kim joked with the media after her round.
Kim, who started on the back-9, didn’t get off to the best start to her round and was sitting at one-over through three holes before tallying a birdie at the par-5 13th. Birdies at 15 and 16 allowed Kim to turn at 2-under, 34 and set up the late charge that allowed her to come home in 5-under, 31.
“I don’t know really,” Kim said when asked about what keyed her success during the round. “Just one shot at time, I guess.”
Chasing Kim will be Na Yeon Choi, Inbee Park and Sei Young Kim who are all at 5-under and a pack of golfers that sit at 3-under including past LPGA winners Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr, Morgan Pressel, Beatriz Recari, Hyo Joo Kim and Mirim Lee.
Numbers to know
4/5 - I.K. Kim birdied four of her final five holes to take the lead
5 - South Koreans - I.K. Kim, Sei Young Kim, Inbee Park, Na Yeon Choi and Jenny Shin - occupy the top-5 spots on the leaderboard after day one
23 - 23 players are within five strokes of the lead
Some relaxing and not so relaxing times for NYC
Over the past few weeks, Na Yeon Choi has had some relaxing and not so relaxing moments outside of the ropes. It started last week when the LPGA took an off-week following the season’s first Major, the ANA Inspiration.
“I stayed in California for a week and I just relaxed there,” Choi said. “Got massage and shopping, just walk around Beverly Hills, Santa Monica.”
Choi then flew out to Hawaii and added to the relaxing atmosphere by staying with some friends in Hawaii.
“I have some friends in Hawaii and they came here rooting for me. I quite enjoyed it,” Choi said. “Actually, she rented a house here for me, so I stay in there. She cooked some Korean food for me. It feels nice. Feels like home.”
The relaxation translated into Choi’s game on Monday as she finished up with a 5-under, 67.
“I think this is the first time I really relaxed on the course this year, so I think that’s why I played well,” Choi said. “I really enjoyed it. I don’t know why, but just this area just make me kind of chill out and relax.”
One thing that wasn’t so relaxing for Choi is when her friends were able to convince her to step outside of her comfort zone and try something new.
“We went skydiving on Saturday,” Choi said. “I went on the plane. I went up like 14,000 feet, but I couldn’t jump out. I was so scared. So I kind of failed, but my friend, she jumped out.”
When asked after the round what was easier golf or skydiving Choi, who admits to being afraid of heights, smiled and said “I think golf is easier.”
Wie and Miyazato pace past champions group
The three past champions of the LOTTE Championship presented by HERSHEY - Ai Miyazato (2012), Suzann Pettersen (2013) and Michelle Wie (2014) - were paired together for the first round of this years event. After day one, Miyazato and are 2-under while Pettersen is even.
“We didn’t really talk about that much,” Wie said of the group all being former champions. “But I love playing with Ai, and I’m really good friends with Suzann. It was a fun round today. I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning.”
The trio will tee off at 7:44 a.m. local time tomorrow.
Hurst wds
Vicky Hurst has withdrawn from the LOTTE Championship due to a wrist injury.
Quote of the Day
“It just feels really fun. I felt this every year that I come back. The support is just so amazing. I feel very blessed, and I hope more people come out on the weekend.”
-Michelle Wie on the fans at the LOTTE Championship
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