Chella Choi had seven birdies on her way to a 6-under 66 to take a one-shot lead after the first round at the Manulife LPGA Classic.

Four players sit in a tie for second at 5-under, including South Korea’s In Gee Chun, Sweden’s Dani Holmqvist, Spain’s Azahara Munoz and American Brittany Lang (2012 champion). Eleven players make up the next wave sitting two shots back of the lead at -4.

Choi rebounded from a bogey on the first hole at Whistle Bear and credited her driving and shot accuracy for giving her several good birdie chances throughout the round.

“Pretty good,” Choi said of her play Thursday. “A lot of wind today. But my game is good and driving is good, shot was good, so I made a lot of birdies.”

The 26-year-old, who celebrated a birthday last week and captured her fourth top-10 of the season, mentioned that she has been putting a lot of work into her driver recently. Choi ranks 18th on Tour in driving accuracy (75.56%) and 90th in average driving distance (252.27) in 2016.

“I worked really hard the last three weeks,” said Choi. “So I want to hit straight and strong my drive four days, so I focus on just my driving four days strong drive. So I don’t know. First good, so that’s why my driving is better, so game is more easier than before.”

Choi’s resume at this event includes two top-10s in four starts, including a runner-up finish in 2012 where she was involved in a four-way playoff with Inbee Park, Hee Kyung Seo and eventual champion Brittany Lang.

GET OUT AND VOTE!

World No. 1 Lydia Ko has been selected as a finalist for the Women’s Sports Foundation’s 2016 Sportswoman of the Year Award in the Individual Sport category. Athletes were considered for this year’s award based on their athletic achievements between August 1, 2015 and August 21, 2016.

Voting has begun and will conclude 11:59pm E.S.T., September 11, 2016.

The winner in each of the categories will be invited to attend the Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Gala on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City to accept their award.

To cast your vote for Lydia visit: http://sportswomanoftheyear.com

REMEMBER YOUR RED

On Friday, September 2, the Manulife LPGA Classic will support Women’s Heart Health with an all-you-can-wear-red dress code. Rock that red!!

Originated in partnership with the Manulife LPGA Classic in 2013, Red Day aims to elevate awareness of the serious risk of heart disease in women by having LPGA players, spectators and volunteers dress in red on site.

“Everyone is encouraged to wear a red item of clothing on the Friday of the Tournament to support St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation,” said Marianne Harrison, President & CEO Manulife Canada. “Red Day has become quite popular with the players, caddies, volunteers and spectators, and seeing the mass of red on the course is quite moving. We have raised $1.2 million for the Foundation and look forward to seeing that number grow this year.”

NUMBERS TO KNOW

6 - Chella Choi holds at least a share of the first round lead for the sixth time in her career

6&4 - Six tournaments have been won by South Koreans (four players) in 2016, the most of any country

8 - Eight Canadian players are in the top-70 after day one (top-70 and ties make cut after Rd 2)

32 - Thirty-two players are within three shots of the current lead

QUOTABLE

“Amazing, teeing off on the first hole and seeing that many people there supporting all three of us and myself was really, really cool. And I definitely was the fan favorite out there, I think, today. You know, par saves were like birdies with the noise of the crowd, which is always really exciting. And I was very happy with the crowds today, and hopefully they’ll just continue to grow over the next three days.”

- Brooke Henderson on the crowds in Canada

“It’s only Thursday. So definitely not getting ahead of myself, but I love coming up here. I love everything about it. It’s really pretty out there by 16. You can see forever. And it’s such a great place to come. The people are nice, and now being a Manulife ambassador, I’m part of their team, so it’s cool to be here with one of my sponsors sponsoring the tournament. I don’t know. I just feel super comfortable here. We have some friends we’re staying with this year, and my husband and all our friends from home are here. So it’s a pretty relaxed week.”

- Brittany Lang on the Manulife LPGA Classic

Choi Leads After One, Don't Forget Your Red and More from Manulife LPGA Classic

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