Jung So-i tees off on the 10th hole. [Photo=KLPGA]
Jung So-i tees off on the 10th hole. [Photo=KLPGA]

Little-known Jung So-i shot to a surprise lead on the opening day of the KLPGA Tour's S-Oil Championship on Thursday.

Jung carded nine birdies against three bogeys for a 6-under-par 66 at Elysian Jeju Country Club (par 72) in Jeju, taking a one-stroke lead over Lee Ye-won in second place. Jung joined the KLPGA Tour in 2020 but has yet to claim a victory on the regular tour; the best finish this season was a solo sixth at the Siena Open.

Jung opened with a birdie on the first hole before a bogey on the second briefly slowed the momentum, but quickly recovered with three consecutive birdies on holes 3 through 5. Back-to-back birdies on holes 8 and 9 were followed by another three-birdie run on holes 12 through 14, showcasing sharp touch around the greens.

"I think the putts really came through for me, which helped me save a lot of strokes," Jung said after the round. "My ball-striking feels really good right now, and I want to keep that feeling going all the way to the end."

Lee Ye-won posted a clean 5-under-par 67 with five birdies and no bogeys to claim sole second place. "Both my first win and my second win on the regular tour came here on Jeju Island, so I have a lot of good memories," Lee said. "That's why every time I come to Jeju, I step onto the course with those memories in mind. I'll play with confidence and give my best in the remaining rounds."

Defending champion Ko Ji-won closed with a birdie-eagle finish on holes 17 and 18 to card a 4-under-par 68, joining Seong Yu-jin, Seo Eo-jin, Gil Ye-ram and Yang Hyo-jin in a tie for third. "As the defending champion, I won't deny that I want to win," Ko said. "But rather than fixating on the result, I want to focus on my own game and play in a way that I can be satisfied with."

Kim Min-sol, who is chasing the money title, traded two birdies for two bogeys to finish at even par, starting the tournament in a tie for 34th alongside Yoo Hyeon-jo, Kim Su-ji and Moon Jeong-min.

Jo A-yeon, playing in her retirement tournament, shot a 1-over-par 73 to sit in a tie for 47th with Park Bo-gyeom, Lim Hee-jeong and Park Gyeol.


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