SYLVANIA, Ohio — Hye-Jin Choi birdied her ultimate two holes late Thursday afternoon for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead within the Dana Open for Kids.
Choi had seven birdies within the bogey-free spherical at Highland Meadows, ending with the birdies on the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth. She putted effectively after struggling a day earlier within the pro-am spherical.
“I hit it too arduous yesterday, so I strive extra stroke gentle and extra like tempo,” mentioned Choi, the 24-year-old South Korean participant who’s winless on the LPGA Tour. “Focusing extra tempo.”
She had 4 straight birdies – on the par-5 seventeenth and 18th, par-4 first and par-3 second – and in addition birdied the par-4 fifth.
“I prefer it right here, however this course, I really feel probably not straightforward,” Choi mentioned.
Xiyu “Janet” Lin of China, the highest-ranked participant within the subject at No. 15, was tied for second with Aditi Ashok of India. They performed in the identical afternoon group with defending champion Linn Grant, additionally opening on No. 10.
Lin holed out twice from bunkers.
“Virtually like two unimaginable photographs to gap out,” she mentioned. “That’s a little bit of luck.”
Lin and Ashok are also winless on the LPGA Tour.
“I actually just like the golf course,” Ashok mentioned. “It’s one thing just like what I grew up on, tree-lined and smaller greens. That’s form of the way it was after I grew up again in India.
Chanettee Wannasaen was one other stroke again at 66 with fellow Thai participant Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and South Africa’s Paula Reto. Wannasaen performed alongside Choi.
Grant and Stacy Lewis had been at 67. The 39-year-old Lewis received the final of her 13 LPGA Tour titles in 2020.
“Actually excited.” Lewis mentioned. “It’s in all probability most variety of birdies I made in a spherical in a really very long time. It’s good to see slightly little bit of progress. And putted it actually properly.”
