China’s Liu Yan and South Korea’s Ryu Hae-ran each fired a seven-under par 65 to share the lead in Thursday’s storm-suspended opening round of the LPGA Chevron Championship — while Minjee Lee is the best-placed Aussie at two-under through 17 holes.
Lee is tied for 16th after an early bogey was recovered with three birdies, including two in the last three holes she completed. Fellow Aussie star Hannah Green is one-over, while Gabriela Ruffels is even par (both finished).
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Both Liu and Ryu had bogey-free starts for 18 holes at Carlton Woods in the year’s first major women’s tournament.
“My driver was pretty good, pretty solid,” Liu said. “Very solid golf today. On the course I’m pretty confident.”
Ryu made a putter change that has paid dividends.
“That was amazing,” Ryu said. “I change the putter and more comfortable for my putting this week…this putter is definitely (better). I make a lot of tricky ones and it’s really good for me.”
South Korean Kim Hyo-joo was third on 67 with a pack on 68 including South Korean Choi Hye-jin, American Brooke Matthews, Spain’s Carlota Ciganda, Belgium’s Manon de Roey and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn.
Play was suspended by a storm late in the day and halted for good an hour later with 24 players unable to finish their first round until Friday.
Among those still on the course, American Lucy Li, who birdied four of the first five holes, was on four-under with four holes remaining.
South Korean Chun In-gee was on three-under with two holes to play while Dutchwoman Dewi Weber and Australian Minjee Lee were on two-under, Lee with one hole to play and Weber with three remaining.
Ryu, the 2023 LPGA Rookie of the Year, seeks her third tour title and first major victory. She won the LPGA Northwest Arkansas Championship in 2023 and last year’s FM Championship.
World number 12 Ryu’s three top-10 finishes in majors last year included a fifth-place effort at the Chevron.
Ryu, 24, had back-to-back birdies at the second and third as well as the par-three seventh and par-five eighth holes. She opened and closed the back nine with birdies and added another at the par-5 13th.
Liu, 27, began playing golf with her mother 15 years ago. She seeks her first LPGA victory and her best career tour finish was third at the 2023 ShopRite Classic.
Liu, a 10th-hole starter, birdied the 10th and par-3 12th, then opened and closed her second nine with birdies in addition to reeling off three in a row starting at the par-three third.
“I think because my approach shot is pretty good, it’s much like long putt,” she said. “I had like 16 on the green, so every putt is for birdie, so it was pretty key for today’s approach shot.”
LEADERBOARD (COMPLETED SCORES)
-7, 65: Ryu Hae-ran (KOR), Liu Yan (CHN)
-5, 67: Kim Hyo-joo (KOR)
-4, 68: Choi Hye-jin (KOR), Ariya Jutanugarn (THA), Carlota Ciganda (ESP), Manon de Roey (BEL), Brooke Matthews
-3, 69: Pajaree Anannarukarn (THA), Minami Katsu (JPN), Georgia Hall (ENG), Angel Yin, Andrea Lee
-2, 70: Sarah Schmelzel, Mao Saigo (JPN), Albane Valenzuela (SUI), a-Jasmine Koo, Lee So-mi (KOR), Frida Kinhult (SWE)
AUSTRALIANS
-2: Minjee Lee (17 holes)
E: Gabriela Ruffels (F)
+1:: Hannah Green (F)
+2: Stephanie Kyriacou, Cassie Porter (F)
+3: Grace Kim (16)
+6: Hira Naveed (F)
