25 September 2021: Aditi Ashok produced a rousing opening round 65 in the Northwest Arkansas Championship, leaving her just two back from the leaders – A Lim Kim, Katherine Kirk and Eun-HI Ji. The three women shot 8-under 63 to earn a one-shot lead over Sarah Burnham after the first round of the 54-hole event.
Aditi is in T5 with four others — Nasa Hataoka, Lindsey Weaver, Pajaree Anannarukarn and Klara Spilkova.
She started the day with a pair of birdies, before gaining strokes on the seventh and ninth holes. Continuing to play some clean golf, Aditi secured consecutive birdies at the 15th and 16th to start the week with an imposing 65. She converted two of the par-5s, both on the front nine, securing birdies on the second and seventh holes.
Kim and Burnham enjoyed having their cards at a career-low 63, while Eun-Hi Ji equaled her best.
Five straight birdies from the seventh and an eagle on the par-5 18th hole helped Kim put herself at the forefront of a packed leaderboard. Kirk and Ji posted eight birdies for a bogey-free card. Burnham also kept her sheet clean on Friday.
“It was fun,” said Kirk. “I got off to a good start and this is the kind of golf course where you just have to keep the pedal down. I was fortunately able to do that and rattled in four birdies on each side.”
Burnham is currently at No. 132 on the CME points list and only a strong run of results can help her retain her card for next season.
“I just wanted to get off to a good start today,” Burnham said. “I just told myself to swing easy and play it smart and we’ll see what happens. Things worked out, and I made a lot of putts. This is one of my favorite weeks on tour. The course is so beautiful with the little creeks throughout the course and just super nice greens.”
Aditi is currently ranked 87th, with a T3 at the Great Lakes Bay Invitational her best result this season. She has accumulated four top-10s so far in her illustrious career on the LPGA
- In this article
- Pros
- Women
- A Lim Kim
- aditi ashok
- Eun-HI Ji
- Katherine Kirk
