Kim A-rim takes solo lead at LPGA Lotte Championship opening round

Kim A-rim seized the solo lead on the opening day of the LPGA Tour Lotte Championship, the same tournament she won two years ago.

The 2024 champion carded a bogey-free 65, 7 under par, with seven birdies in the first round Friday (Korean Standard Time) at Hoakalei Country Club (par 72) in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

Yun I-na and Liu Yu of China shared second place, one stroke back, each posting a 6-under 66.

Kim won the 2020 US Women's Open and joined the LPGA Tour in 2021, claiming her first tour victory at the 2024 Lotte Championship on the same course. Chasing a title defense two years on, she wasted no time surging to the front on day one.

Playing on a rain-softened course, Kim missed four fairways but found all but two greens in regulation, relying on precise iron play. She made three birdies on the front nine, added another at the par-4 13th, then reeled off three consecutive birdies at holes 15 through 17 to move to the top of the leaderboard.

"Wind control and putting are key here because of the wind," Kim said after her round. "Today the rain made things even harder, but I managed to work through it well."

Yun also thrust herself into contention, finishing at 6 under 66 with seven birdies and one bogey. Starting from the 10th hole, she strung together seven birdies through the third hole of her back nine before dropping her only shot of the day at the par-4 sixth.

Ko Jin-young sits in a tie for 10th at 4 under 68, carding four birdies without a bogey. She hit every fairway, displaying a steady off-the-tee game throughout the round.

"It has been a really long time since I shot in the 60s," Ko said. "Younger players are coming up and it is tough, but I am trying to stay at my own pace."

Lydia Ko of New Zealand, who needs a finish of tied second or better to surpass Sweden's Annika Sorenstam as the all-time leading money winner on the LPGA Tour, opened with a 1-under 71.