Hwang Yumin Makes Four Birdies, No Bogeys... "Opens Tied for 7th, Two Shots Back"

Yamashita and two others share the lead after Round 1 of the Toto Japan Classic
Chun In Gee and Kang Minji tied for 16th; Kim Hyo Joo tied for 40th

Rookie Hwang Yumin made her mark at the final event of the Asian Swing.

On Nov. 5, Hwang shot a bogey-free 4-under-par 68, making four birdies, in the first round of the LPGA Tour’s Toto Japan Classic, held at Taiheiyo Club Minori Course (par 72) in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. She opened tied for seventh with defending champion Nasa Hataoka of Japan. The tournament has a total purse of $2.1 million.

Hwang Yumin carded a 4-under-par 68 in the first round of the Toto Japan Classic. AFP-Yonhap News.

Hwang, who won the LPGA Tour’s Lotte Championship last October as a non-member, showed steady ball-striking on the first day, hitting 88.8% of greens in regulation. Her 30 putts, however, were a disappointment. She was two shots behind the co-leaders.

Maybank Championship winner Miyu Yamashita, Akie Iwai and Sayaka Takahashi, all of Japan, shot 6-under-par 66s to share the lead.

In Gee Chun shot a 3-under-par 69 with four birdies and one bogey. She was tied for 16th with Minji Kang. Mi Hyang Lee and Su Bin Joo were tied for 26th at 2 under (70), Hyo Joo Kim was tied for 40th at 1 under (71), and Jin Young Ko and Min Young Lee were tied for 47th at even par (72). Ji-yai Shin carded a 2-over-par 74 and was tied for 67th.

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