Minjee Lee off to record start at Blue Bay LPGA in China

Previous champion Minjee Lee received off to a powerful begin on the Blue Bay LPGA occasion in China after posting a easy 7-under 65, which ties the course file. The Aussie holds a one-stroke benefit over American Sarah Schmelzel and Chinese language gamers Miranda Wang and Ruixin Liu. This marks the primary version of the Blue Bay occasion since 2018.

“I simply took benefit of the actually calm situations this morning,” stated Lee, “and I feel with the slightly bit the rain it really stopped it much more, the wind.”

Whereas Lee received twice in 2023, this marks the primary time she has led or co-led after the primary spherical because the 2022 Chevron Championship. Earlier this season, it was introduced that Lee had joined her brother Min Woo on the Callaway employees. Beforehand a Srixon participant, the most effective ball-strikers on the LPGA had some work to do to get issues so as. That is her second begin this season. She opened with a T-29 final week in Singapore.

“I really touched on every thing this offseason,” stated Lee, “particularly altering my tools to Callaway. The whole lot has been slightly little bit of a course of getting used to, however I feel it’s going to take me a pair occasions simply to knock the rust off and break these golf equipment in.”

Lee additionally holds the 36-hole and 72-hole scoring information at Blue Bay.

Schmelzel led after the primary spherical of final week’s HSBC Girls’s World Championship and in the end tied for eighth.

Lydia Ko of New Zealand performs her shot on the ninth gap in the course of the first spherical of the Blue Bay LPGA at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course on March 07, 2024 in Hainan Island, Hainan. (Picture by Zhizhao Wu/Getty Pictures)

Lydia Ko, who wants yet one more level to enter the LPGA Corridor of Fame and a win would get her there, opened with a 68 at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course.

“There are some greens with some pin positions that like is definitely actually arduous to remain on the identical tier,” stated Ko. “I feel how the foundations officers are going to arrange the golf course and the place they put the pins are going to dictate the scores so much.”

World No. 1 Lilia Vu withdrew from the ultimate spherical in Singapore on Sunday with an sickness. She rested on Monday and shot 72 within the opening spherical.

“I really feel like there was an enormous crowd out right here,” stated Vu. “I used to be enjoying with Ruoning (Yin), so clearly it’s her crowd. There was a variety of little children on the market following her, so it was actually cool to see the turnout right here.”