Yang Hyo-jin shares Round 1 lead at Celltrion Queens Masters

Eighteen-year-old "super rookie" Yang Hyo-jin shares the first-round lead at the KLPGA Tour Celltrion Queens Masters, which carries a purse of 1.5 billion won (about $981,000).

Yang fired seven birdies — no bogeys — for a 7-under-par 65 on Friday at Seongmunan Country Club (par 72) in Wonju, Gangwon Province, finishing level with Son Ye-bin, who also carded seven birdies in her opening round.

A former national amateur team member, Yang earned her KLPGA Tour card by finishing first at last November's qualifying tournament and is now chasing her first win in her 11th start of the season. Her best result this season was a third-place finish at the Siena Open 2026 in April.

Starting on the 10th hole (par 4), Yang made her first birdie on the 14th (par 4) after placing her second shot 2.7 meters from the pin, then kept the momentum going with birdies on the 15th (par 3) and 16th (par 5) for three consecutive birdies.

She then reeled off another three straight birdies on holes 2 through 4 before sinking an 8.6-meter putt on the 9th (par 5) to close out her round.

Son Ye-bin, who has been on tour since her 2022 KLPGA debut without a victory, also turned in a strong opening round. She birdied three straight holes from the 10th through the 12th, added consecutive birdies on the 14th and 15th to go five under through the front nine, then birdied the 4th and 5th holes back-to-back to finish at seven under heading into the second round.

Kim Ji-su, winless on tour, Park Hyun-kyung, an eight-time winner, and Kim Su-ji, a six-time winner, are all tied for third at 6-under 66, one stroke off the lead.

Park Min-ji claimed her 20th career title last weekend at the Sh Suhyup Bank MBN Women's Open and is now chasing the all-time KLPGA wins record with a 21st. She opened with a steady 3-under 69 — three birdies, no bogeys — to sit tied for 19th. Defending champion Lee Ga-young is tied for 13th at 4-under 68.