Choi Hye-jin leads Buick LPGA Shanghai by 3 strokes after bogey-free 64

Choi Hye-jin fired an 8-under-par 64 in the opening round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Thursday to take the lead in the first event of the LPGA Tour's Asian swing.

Playing at Seosan Country Club (par 72) in Shanghai, China, Choi carded eight birdies without a single bogey to finish at 8-under 64, moving three strokes clear of Spain's Carlota Ciganda in second place.

Starting on the 10th hole, Choi made four birdies on each nine. She was particularly sharp on holes 2 through 5 of her back nine, stringing together four consecutive birdies to claim the top spot on the leaderboard. Despite missing the green in regulation on six holes, she needed only 22 putts across all 18 holes.

Choi joined the LPGA Tour in 2022 and has consistently performed at an elite level, yet a tour victory has continued to elude her.

In her debut season she made the cut in 26 of 27 events and finished sixth on the money list with $2,075,696 in earnings. Including four top-10 finishes this season, she has now recorded 33 top-10 finishes in total — the most among winless players in terms of prize money earned on tour.

Ciganda, who competed at the Aramco Korea Championship in South Korea last week, posted eight birdies against three bogeys for a 5-under 67 to claim sole second place.

China's Yin Ruoning, playing on home soil, shot a 4-under 68 to join Grace Kim of Australia, Japan's Rio Takeda and Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen in a tie for third. Yin previously won a team gold medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Defending champion Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand opened with a 3-under 69, sharing seventh place with Yang Hee-young, Japan's Erika Hara and American Jina Kim, among others.

Hwang Yu-min, who is chasing the LPGA Tour Rookie of the Year title, struggled to a 2-over 74 and sits tied for 39th — five strokes behind rival Erika Hara.

Kim Sei-young, who will defend her title at the BMW Ladies Championship in Haenam, South Jeolla Province, next week, also had a difficult day, carding a 3-over 75 to finish tied for 50th.