Seo Gyorim shines while Kim Minsol struggles on opening day of Jeju Samdasoo Masters

The fortunes of born-in-2006 rivals Seo Gyorim and Kim Minsol diverged sharply on the opening day of the Jeju Samdasoo Masters, the second-half season opener.

Playing Thursday at Teddy Valley Golf & Resort (par 72) in Seogwipo, Jeju Island, Seo carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 67, placing her in a tie for fourth. She sat one stroke behind the trio of Seo Eojin, Park Yeji and Shin Dain, who shared the lead at 6-under-par 66. Kim Minsol, playing in the same group, had a far rougher day — two birdies against four bogeys left her at 2-over-par 74 and tied for 67th.

The two are national team teammates and close friends who have dominated the KLPGA Tour this season. Kim leads in both award points (313) and prize money, having claimed three wins in the first half of the season and earned 984 million won ($691,000). Seo, with two wins, sits second in both categories — 310 award points and 791 million won in prize money. The outcome of this tournament is expected to shake up the individual title race between them.

Seo had been tied for the lead after picking up six birdies through the 13th hole, but a missed 1.7-meter par putt at the par-3 14th — following a green miss — dropped her one stroke back heading into the second round. Most of her birdies came from putts in the 3-to-6-meter range, reflecting her sharp feel on the greens. "My shots were solid overall today," she said after the round. "I'm happy to have finished with a good score despite the heat. I want to keep this feeling going and play well tomorrow."

Kim appeared to be feeling the effects of jet lag and a long journey home after missing the cut last week at the AIG Women's British Open, an LPGA Tour major. She made three bogeys through just six holes and three-putted on consecutive holes — the third and fourth — as she struggled to find her form. Facing an early cut scare, Kim said her "shot balance was off" throughout the round.

Defending champion Ko Jiwon, also in the same group, fared little better, carding four birdies but three bogeys and two double bogeys for a 3-over-par 75 that left her tied for 86th.

Seo Eojin reached the top of the leaderboard with a shot eagle at the par-5 15th hole, holing out from 132 yards to finish at 6-under-par 66 and share the lead with Park Yeji and Shin Dain. "The pin was right behind a bunker, so there wasn't much room," Seo Eojin said. "I was thinking about landing it toward the pin and letting it roll back for a putt from behind — but the ball just went straight in."