Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim, Auston Kim high crowded leaderboard

Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim and Auston Kim had been atop the leaderboard on the LPGA’s Blue Bay match with opening-round scores of 4-under 68 on Thursday.

Jeeno Thitikul, the world No. 2, was a shot again with seven different gamers on China’s southern island of Hainan.

In a crowded discipline on the primary day, 12 extra gamers had been simply two pictures off the tempo after rounds of 70. In all, 42 gamers are at even par or higher.

A Lim Kim had a roller-coaster opening spherical with an eagle, six birdies and 4 bogeys. Furue bogeyed her first gap then scattered 5 birdies.

Auston Kim carded the one bogey-free opening spherical. A Floridian who performed collegiately at Vanderbilt, Kim is in her second season and looking for her first LPGA Tour win. She accomplished her spherical with 26 putts and mentioned she was assured in that a part of her recreation this week.

“I believe there was lots of belief in my brief recreation and placing at present,” she mentioned. “Felt good proper out of the gate and been placing in lots of work the previous few weeks. So trusting the work I have been placing in and realizing that if I made a bogey it was OK, but when I made the par, unbelievable. Simply transfer on to the following one and take a look at my greatest.”

Thitikul, who performed the entrance 9 at 4 beneath, mentioned the windy situations performed havoc on the again 9.

“I believe at present performed a bit of bit more durable on the again 9, as a result of like lots of into the wind, particularly gap No. 10 is so insane,” she mentioned. “However general, I believe taking pictures beneath par right here, regardless of it is entrance or again 9, it is adequate.”

No. 4-ranked Ruoning Yin carded a par 72 in entrance of her house followers, whereas defending champion Bailey Tardy shot a 3-over 75 and was seven pictures off the lead.

The Related Press and Area Stage Media contributed to this report.