Seo Gyo-rim reads the green on the 11th hole during the first round of the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship on Thursday. [KLPGA]
Seo Gyo-rim reads the green on the 11th hole during the first round of the Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship on Thursday. [KLPGA]

Seo Gyo-rim moved into a share of the lead after the opening round of the KLPGA Tour's Mediheal-Hankook Ilbo Championship, which carries a purse of 1.2 billion won ($848,000).

Seo, a two-time winner this season, carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday at Mongvert Country Club's Myeongseongsan Course (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province.

Sitting second on the season money list and points standings behind Kim Min-sol, Seo shares the top spot with Noh Seung-hee and Han Ji-won — all three at 5 under — as she sets her sights on a third win of the season.

Seo kept her round on track with steady ball-striking, missing only two fairways and two greens in regulation, and holed every putt within three meters.

She made five birdies without a bogey through the 15th hole before a wayward approach on the par-4 16th led to her only dropped shot of the day. She bounced back on the par-4 18th, sticking her second shot to within two meters and converting the birdie to close out the round on a high note.

Noh Seung-hee, a three-time KLPGA Tour winner, seized her fourth title opportunity since claiming The Heaven Masters in June last year. Noh was 3 under through 15 holes before reeling off back-to-back birdies on the par-4 16th and par-3 17th to join the lead.

Lee Da-yeon, who secured her 10th career title two weeks ago at the Aurora World Championship, sits one stroke back in a tie for fourth at 4-under 68 alongside Kim Min-ju and Lee Ga-young.

Defending champion Hong Jeong-min withdrew with a back injury before completing the second hole.


yjc@heraldcorp.com