World No. 1 Tseng takes first round lead at LPGA event in S. Korea

By Yoo Jee-ho
INCHEON, Oct. 7 (Yonhap) -- World No. 1 Yani Tseng fired 10 birdies to take the first round lead at the LPGA Hana Bank Championship here Friday.
The 22-year-old from Taiwan shot a seven-under 65, her 10 birdies negated by three bogeys on the par-72 Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club, just west of Seoul.
The score could easily have been lower, since all of her bogeys came on three putts.
"I hit lots of good shots and good putts," Tseng said. "I had three three-putts, but overall, I played really good and I am very happy about this."
Tseng holds a one-shot lead over Chella Choi, a third-year LPGA Tour player from South Korea. Choi, 21, fired five birdies and an eagle, along with a bogey.



"Everything worked out well today," Choi said. "It was one of those rare days when everything clicked."
She holed out from 85 yards for an eagle on the par-5 13th, and chipped in from 13 yards for a birdie on the par-3 17th.
"I scrambled to make a few pars, and then opportunities came to score a few birdies," Choi said.
Lurking right behind is Choi Na-yeon, the two-time defending champion. She shot a bogey-free round of five-under 67.
"I guess I played a flawless round, since I didn't have a bogey," Choi said. "After my birdie on fifth, I didn't have another one until the 15th. But I stayed patient and it helped me finish well today."
Choi and Tseng were put in the same group, and the Korean player said she had the best seat in the house to Tseng's fireworks.
"Yani has everything; she hits it far and straight off the tee, hits all the greens and is a great putter," Choi said. "I was kind of anxious to see her play from up close. And I was shocked how aggressive she was attacking pins today."
In benign conditions on the 6,364-yard layout, 32 of 69 players in the field went under par Friday.
Among other notables, Paula Creamer also went bogey-free to shoot a 68. Suzann Pettersen and Cristie Kerr, ranked second and third in the world, each fired a 72. Michelle Wie and Shin Ji-yai joined them at even par for the first round.
This is the 10th edition of the only LPGA Tour event in South Korea each year. South Koreans have won seven of the nine previous editions. The winner will take home US$270,000.
jeeho@yna.co.kr
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