Vicky Hurst and Kim
Song-Hee
lead after first round of LPGA Hana Bank Championship
Vicky Hurst and Kim Song-Hee share the first round lead after shooting rounds of
68 in the LPGA Hana Bank Championship Friday 29 October.
The weather conditions for the first round of this 54-hole tournament played in South-Korea were not conducive to low scores.
“It was really cold this morning,” Hurst said. “I thought that it was going to be warmer today, but standing on the putting green, I was really cold. I just tried to keep warm starting out and stay steady
because balls aren’t going to be flying as far.”
Both the American – Hurst – and native South-Korean – Kim – are winless on tour. Both leaders carded five birdies and one bogey on the way to shooting an opening round of four-under par.
Hurst, who is in her second year on the LPGA tour, currently ranks 267th in career earnings. Her best finish this year is a Tie for seventh at the HSBC Women's Champions last February. She is currently
ranked 77th on the Rolex World Women’s Rankings.
Kim, who joined the tour in 2007, has recorded 15 top-10 finishes in 19 events played this season. Her best finish this season came at the LPGA Championship where she finished second. She also put in a
good showing at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and at the HSBC Women's Champions where she finished tied for third in both events. In just four years on tour she has amassed over $3m, ranking her 65th in career earnings and her consistent performance this
year has lead her to rank eighth on the Rolex rankings.
The 22-year-old Kim is keeping her early success in perspective, telling reporters, “I’m still young and will have a lot of chances to win,” adding, “I will not be disappointed if I don’t win this tournament.
But one thing for sure is I will try to my best.”
Other notables
Other notables include the defending champion Na Yeon Choi, who along with Amy Hung, sit one shot back with opening rounds of 69 along with six others. Michelle Wie birdied the final two holes for a 70 putting
her two shots back with seven other players. World number one, Christie Kerr, shot a one-under 71 which was good enough to put her two shots ahead of second in the world, Jiyai Shin, who struggled in the frigid temperatures.
Wie seemed pleased after her round and was satisfied with the course set-up saying, “The golf course was very good. There were some tricky pins out there today. You have to put yourself in the right places,
but it’s a very fun golf course.”
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