Following the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s LA Open in California on Thursday, Lee Mi-Hyang of South Korea took a one-shot lead.

At the Palos Verdes Estates course, which has a view of the Pacific Ocean, Lee’s final birdie brought his overall score of 65 to six under par.

The 30-year-old South Korean opened her latest hunt for her first LPGA Tour championship since winning the Scottish Open in 2017 with six birdies in a round without a bogey.

Lee put up an outstanding performance considering that she had just qualified on Monday to get her berth in the field.

Kim Hyo-Joo of South Korea and Meghan Khang of the United States both shot 66s to tie for second place at five under.

After getting to six under after 11 holes, Kim was ready to contend for the lead.

She was back at five under after a bogey on the 13th, but she was unable to add any more strokes on the last stretch.

Nasa Hataoka of Japan is tied for fourth place on four under with Lucy Li and Maude Aimee-Leblanc.

Nelly, Jessica, and the Korda sisters, as well as Charley Hull of England, are tied for seventh place with five other players on three under.

AFP