HONOLULU (AP) — Former U.S. Women’s Open champion A Lim Kim opened with an eagle and piled up birdies en route to a 6-under 66 Wednesday to take a one-shot lead after the first round of the Lotte Championship.
It was a good start on many levels for Kim, whose only LPGA title remains the 2020 Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club played in December due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She is No. 65 in the Race to CME Globe and has just two tournaments left to crack the top 60 and earn a spot in the season finale that will pay $4 million to the winner.
“It’s a good start today, so I think it’s a fun day,” she said.
So many others just behind also have a lot at stake. The top 100 players after next week’s tournament in Florida keep their cards full for 2025. Among those at 67 was Bianca Pagdanganan, who started the week at 107th rank.
She was tied for the lead until two late bogeys, then birdied the par-5 18th at Hoakalei Country Club. Pagdanganan avoided windy afternoon conditions on Oahu that made it difficult for anyone to catch Kim.
“I took advantage of every birdie putt I got and gave myself a lot of opportunities,” Pagdanganan said. “But at the same time, I still managed to play smart. Again, with the conditions it’s easy to get impatient.
Also at 67 are Ruixin Liu, Polly Mack and Perrine Delacour, all with plenty at stake, whether it’s trying to finish in the top 60 for the CME Group Tour Championship or in the top 100 to secure a card complete for next year.
The wind was strong enough to derail a few good laps. Yuri Yoshida of Japan is 132nd in points. She was tied for the lead with six birdies and no bogeys on her card until Yoshida made two bogeys on the back nine and failed to birdie the two par 5s. She found herself at 68 .
The peloton only has two players from the top 10 of the women’s world rankings. One of them is Ayaka Furue, who has a chance to win the Vare Trophy for the lowest average. Furue, who won the Evian Championship this year for his first major, scored a 70.
Also 70 years old, Jin Young Ko, the other player in the top 10, is trying to extend her winning streak at least once on the LPGA Tour in the last seven years.
Honorine Nobuta Ferry, a 14-year-old who received a sponsor’s exemption for her LPGA debut, is also in the field. She grew up on Oahu and once competed in the Lotte Championship. She was in Japan last week and watched the Toto Japan Classic, and is now playing alongside them.
The teenager, who now lives in the Dallas area to facilitate his travel to junior tournaments, opened with 11 pars and shot 74.
“I will definitely never forget this round,” Nobuta Ferry said.
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