Ryu Hae-ran saves home-course honor with bogey-free 67 at BMW Ladies Championship

Ryu Hae-ran opened the BMW Ladies Championship — the only LPGA Tour event held in South Korea — with a bogey-free round to sit one stroke off the lead in a tie for third place.

Playing at Pine Beach Golf Links (par 72) in Haenam, South Jeolla Province on Thursday, Ryu carded five birdies without a bogey for a 5-under-par 67, joining Lauren Coughlin, Lucy Li (both United States) and Julia Lopez Ramirez (Spain) in a share of third. She trails co-leaders Caris Davidson (Australia) and Yoshida Yuri (Japan), who each shot 6-under 66, by one stroke.

Ryu, who hails from Yeongam — a town near the tournament venue in Haenam — played a flawless opening round to the delight of local fans and posted the best score among South Korean players. "My father is from near the course, so a lot of people from South Jeolla Province came out to cheer," she said. "I'll keep giving my best over the remaining three days, so please keep cheering me on."

Ryu opened her scoring with a birdie on the par-5 second hole, then added back-to-back birdies on the fifth and sixth to turn at 3 under. She kept her focus on the back nine, making consecutive birdies on the 15th and 16th holes. She closed out the tricky 17th and 18th with pars.

Ryu missed only one of 14 fairways with her driver and hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation, a testament to her ball-striking accuracy. Her average driving distance was 252.0 yards and she used 32 putts.

On the LPGA Tour this season, Ryu leads the field in greens in regulation (79.04 percent), greens in regulation from the fairway (86.55 percent) and strokes gained: approach (1.50 per round). She also ranks third in total strokes gained (2.24) and third in strokes gained: off the tee (0.91).

"The wind was stronger than I expected, so I was a bit worried, but all the practice I put in on Wednesday was a big help during Thursday's round," Ryu said. "I was a little disappointed with how I managed the final hole, but I'll take it as a reminder to work even harder and go into Friday's round with a calm head."

Ryu has been one of the standout players on tour this year, winning two majors. She claimed her first major title at the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June, then added a second at the Amundi Evian Championship. Two weeks ago, she also captured her first KLPGA Tour major at the Hite Jinro Championship.

Kim Hyo-joo carded a 3-under 69 — five birdies against two bogeys — to begin the week in a tie for eighth alongside Yang Hee-young, Kim Min-joo, Kim Min-sun 7, Noh Ye-rim, Jennifer Kupcho (United States) and Lottie Woad (England).

Park Min-ji, Kim Min-sol and Yoo Hyun-jo each shot 2-under 70 to share 18th place with Jeon Ji-won, Hataoka Nasa (Japan), Maja Stark (Sweden) and Angel Yin (United States).

Choi Hye-jin, who finished runner-up at last week's Buick LPGA Shanghai, opened with a 1-under 71 to sit in a tie for 29th alongside Choi Ye-rim, Shin Ji-eun, Kim A-rim, Park Bo-kyum and Iwai Aki (Japan).

Defending champion Kim Sei-young made three consecutive bogeys on the first through third holes but recovered with three birdies over the remaining holes to card an even-par 72, leaving her in a tie for 40th with Yoon I-na, Jeon In-ji, Seo Gyo-rim, Lee Da-yeon and Lee Ye-won.