Yuna Yoon Shines at Major Tournament: "First Time Shooting 9-Under on the LPGA Tour"

Nine Birdies in the First Round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship
Second-Year on the U.S. Stage, Yuna Yoon Eyes First Victory
Kim A Lim at 5 Under, Korda at 2 Under, Kim Hyo Joo at 1 Under

Yoon Ina, now in her second year on the LPGA Tour, made a splash on the first day of a major tournament.

On June 25 (local time), at Hazeltine National Golf Club (par 72) in Chaska, Minnesota, Yoon Ina played the first round of the season's third major, the KPMG Women's PGA Championship, which has a total prize purse of 13 million dollars. She carded nine birdies without a single bogey. Shooting a nine-under-par 63, Yoon Ina surged to the top of the leaderboard. Starting from the 10th hole, she picked up four birdies on the front nine to gain momentum, then added five more birdies on the back nine.

Yuna Kim is running on the fairway at the 3rd hole of the first round of the KPMG Women's PGA Championship. Photo by Chaska=AFP Yonhap News

Yoon Ina joined the LPGA Tour last year. This year, she has participated in 11 tournaments, made the cut 10 times, and finished in the top 10 on four occasions, but has yet to claim her first victory. Her best individual result this year was a fourth-place finish at the JM Eagle LA Championship. She tied for fourth at the season's first major, the Chevron Championship, but missed the cut at the U.S. Women's Open held earlier this month.

After her round, Yoon Ina said in an official interview, "This is the first time I've shot nine-under-par on the LPGA Tour," and added, "I was so focused that I didn't even realize I'd made nine birdies." She also said, "Every part of my game, from shots to putting, was good today," and added, "There is still a long way to go, so I will review today's round carefully and make plans for the remaining rounds."

Kim A Lim, the 2020 champion of this event, got off to a strong start with a five-under-par 67. Nelly Korda (USA), aiming for three consecutive major wins following victories at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open, carded five birdies, one bogey, and one double bogey, finishing the first day at two-under-par 70. Kim Hyo Joo, who has two wins this year, finished with a one-under-par 71, while Park Sung Hyun and Kim Sei Young, both champions of this event in 2017, shot even-par 72.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.