Seo Kyo-rim shares first-round lead at Medihill-Hankook Ilbo Championship

Seo Kyo-rim shares the first-round lead at the KLPGA Tour's Medihill-Hankook Ilbo Championship, which carries a purse of 1.2 billion won ($848,000).

Seo carded six birdies and one bogey for a 5-under-par 67 on Thursday at Mongvert Country Club's Myeongseongsan Course (par 72) in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, joining No Seung-hee and Han Ji-won at the top of the leaderboard. Having won the Inca Financial The Heaven Masters and the Celltrion Queens Masters in June, Seo now has a platform to chase a third victory of the season.

Seo had raced to five birdies through the 15th hole before dropping a shot at the par-4 16th, where her second shot fell short of the green and her third approach ran 5 meters past the hole. She recovered with a closing birdie at the par-4 18th, sticking her second shot to within 2.4 meters of the pin to share the lead heading into the second round.

"I think I played pretty well today without any major issues," Seo said after her round. "I believe physical stamina is what allows you to stay focused all the way through the fourth round. Keeping a good feel on the greens is also important."

No Seung-hee, still seeking her first win of the season, moved into a share of the lead with back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th holes. She holed a 1-meter birdie putt at the par-4 16th, then stuck her tee shot to within 60 centimeters at the par-3 17th for a tap-in birdie. "I think good course management matters more than obsessing over winning," No said. "When you're out there playing, your body instinctively aims at the pin and the urge to go for it builds up — letting go of that urge is the most important thing."

Han Ji-won joined the co-leaders after making six birdies on her remaining holes following a bogey at the 2nd. "I was able to post a good score because my mid-range putts of around 4 meters were dropping," Han said. "The greens are extremely fast. I think the key will be to get the ball on the green carefully, take the chances that come and make par when they don't."

Lee Da-yeon, who won the Aurora World Championship last week, shot a 4-under 68 to sit one stroke back in a tie for fourth alongside Kim Min-ju and Lee Ga-young. Lee had made five birdies through the 15th hole but could not convert a 12-meter par putt after missing the green at the par-4 16th.

Kim Min-sol, the season's leading winner with three titles, got off to a tie-for-seventh start with a 3-under 69, aided by back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th holes. Ko Ji-won, Yang Hyo-jin and Choi Ye-rim also finished the day in the group at 3 under.

Kim A-rim, competing on a sponsor's exemption, carded a 1-under 71 to share 30th place with Ahn Song-i, Lim Hee-jeong, Ji Han-sol, Kim Min-byeol and Seo Eo-jin. Kim made four birdies but also dropped three shots.

Jang Eun-su, who claimed her first KLPGA victory last week at the Jeju Samdasoo Masters in her 10th professional season, opened with a 1-over 73 to share 58th place alongside Park Sung-hyun, Bang Shin-sil and Jo A-yeon. Jang managed only one birdie against two bogeys.