Defending Champ Sei Young Kim One Back
One of the five players who sits a shot back of Minjee Lee and Moriya Jutanugarn is defending champion Sei Young Kim who used five birdies against two bogeys to post 3-under, 69.
“I like to play windy, because if into the wind I can hit the cut shot,” Kim said. “Even if the left to right wind, my nature fly right hook, so it’s easy today. Yeah, so very comfortable today.”
Kim has enjoyed her week in Hawaii as the defending champion.
“When I walk on the course a lot of memory coming at me,” Kim said with a smile. “So, yeah, very comfortable. Then, yeah, give me a lot of energy, that memory.”
Henderson In The Hunt
Brooke Henderson sits one back of the lead after firing an opening round 69 at the LOTTE Championship Presented by HERSHEY.
“It was really tough,” Henderson admitted. “The wind has been my big challenge. But it was a lot of fun. Going into today I just wanted to see the wind as something exciting and something to really play well in, and I did that so far.”
Last year Henderson was attempting to Monday Qualify for this event and missed out. The 18-year-old Canadian comes into the event a year later as an LPGA Tour winner who ranks seventh in the latest Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings.
“Last year in the qualifier it wasn’t that windy, so coming here this year it was kind of a little bit of a shock to see how windy it actually is.”
As she has for most of the season, Brooke had her sister Brittany on the bag.
“I think Brit and I did a really good job today of calculating wind and knowing where to land the ball. I think if can just we continue to do that, be a good next three days.”
Kono Leads Local Players On Day One
Stephanie Kono shot an even par 72 to lead the group of three Hawaiians in the field.
“It was pretty windy. I hit a lot of good shots. I just tried to really have a good number on every hole and stick to that number and just put a good swing on it and see where it went. Luckily a few putts rolled in. It was tough, but it was a good day.”
Fellow Hawaiians Allisen Corpuz and Michelle Wie didn’t fare as well shooting five and eight over respectively.
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