Feb 22, 2018: It’s a jam-packed leaderboard after the steamy first round of the 2018 Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club Pattaya’s Old Course. Minjee Lee, Lexi Thompson, Moriya Jutanugarn and Jessica Korda each carded rounds of 6-under 66 and sit in a four-way tie for first place.
Six players are one stroke behind at 5-under 67, including two-time and defending champion Amy Yang and World No. 2 Sung Hyun Park, who making her debut in Thailand.
Scoring conditions were nearly perfect on Thursday, with scores going as low as the thermometer went high. With a heat index in the upper 90s and little wind to stir the air, 39 of the field’s 70 players returned sub-par rounds.
Co-leader Moriya Jutanugarn leads the six-strong Thai contingent, followed by younger sister Ariya Jutanugarn (4-under 68, T11) and Pornanong Phatlum (3-under 69, T16). World No. 1 Shanshan Feng is tied for 16th at 3-under 69.
The first and 18th holes provided quite the show during the first round of the Honda LPGA Thailand. Playing in the same group, Lexi Thompson and Ariya Jutanugarn both eagled the par-5 first hole, much to the delight of the numerous fans gathered to watch the international golfing icons.
“It was really good way to start the round,” said Thompson. “Never complain about an eagle on the first hole. Ariya eagled it as well. It was a good start for us all. I just tried to keep the momentum going and focus on one shot at a time and not get too ahead of myself and get too excited out there.
Minjee Lee closed her round with a 45-foot eagle putt to take the early clubhouse lead. And in the final group to visit No. 18, Jessica Korda nearly holed out for eagle from 138 yards but instead settled for a short birdie putt that vaulted her into a tie for first.
“I had a pretty big swing, right-to-left putt, so I thought, Just go as close to the edge as possible,” said Lee, who also drained a 50-foot putt for birdie at No. 11. “Just clipped the edge and sort of rolled up there. Glad I saw it go in.”
LPGA Tour Release
