Imagine kicking off a major golf tournament with a performance so electrifying that it ties the all-time record – that's exactly what Sei Young Kim accomplished on day one of the BMW Ladies Championship in Haenam, South Korea. Her jaw-dropping round had everyone talking, and it set the stage for what could be an unforgettable event. But here's where it gets really intriguing: she pulled this off right in her hometown, surrounded by family and fans. Could that home-field advantage have played a role in her stellar start? Let's dive in and unpack the details of this thrilling opening round.
Sei Young Kim, the talented Korean golfer, equaled the championship's lowest score ever with an impressive 10-under-par performance at Pine Beach Golf Links. For beginners getting into golf, 'under-par' means shooting better than the standard score for the course – in this case, finishing 10 strokes below par. She racked up eight birdies (those are shots that land on the hole in one less stroke than par) and even an eagle (a rare two-under on a single hole, often on a par-five where you make it in two strokes instead of three). On top of that, she hit 12 out of 14 fairways accurately – that's the grassy area leading to the green – and landed 17 of 18 greens in regulation, setting her up for success with her putting. Her final tally? A blazing 62, matching the mark set by Ashleigh Buhai back in 2023 at the Seowon Valley Country Club in Paju, South Korea.
After enduring a brief one-hour weather hold, Kim capped off an incredible day with birdies on the very first and last holes. She turned things up a notch from holes 6 through 9, going 5-under in that stretch, including that eagle on the par-5 sixth. As she explained it, playing close to home brought extra motivation: 'Yes, so this is near my hometown, so I have lots of family, my cousins, a lot of fans,' she shared. 'I had a great start from the first hole and all the way through 18th, getting a lot of support. The course is absolutely wonderful. The layout and the conditions of the course were great.' For those new to the sport, imagine the adrenaline of performing under the eyes of your loved ones – it must feel like playing in front of your biggest cheerleaders!
Despite her scorching start, Sei Young Kim leads by just a single stroke over fellow South Korean Hyo Joo Kim. Hyo Joo also kept her card clean without any bogeys (over-par shots), notching seven birdies and a spectacular eagle with a 130-yard chip-in on the par-4 seventh hole. She was among seven golfers who hit every fairway, and she led the group with just 25 putts – a sign of her precision on the greens. Interestingly, this was her best LPGA Tour score since 2019, showing how this round could mark a comeback moment for her.
Trailing by two strokes in third place all on her own is Lindy Duncan, who fired an 8-under 64. Starting on the back nine (the second half of the course), she strung together two impressive runs of three straight birdies – first on holes 5 through 7, then on 17, 18, and 1. Duncan was one of four players who reached every green in regulation, highlighting her consistency. 'I think 8-under might be my lowest on the LPGA,' she remarked. 'It was a really great day, bogey-free, had a lot of birdie chances and converted a lot of them.' It's examples like these that remind us how a strong start can build momentum for the rest of the tournament.
Sharing fourth place at 7-under are Brooke Matthews, Thailand's Chanettee Wannasaen, and Japan's Rio Takeda. Meanwhile, last year's winner, Australia's Hannah Green, chipped in for an eagle on the 17th but settled for a 4-under 68, tying for 22nd with 10 other players. And this is the part most people miss – Lucy Li joined that group at 4-under after acing the 13th hole with a 7-iron, her first hole-in-one on the LPGA Tour. 'It was a good number into the wind. Hit it right at the pin,' she described. 'Thought it might end up a little short but it went in. I just started freaking out.' For golf newcomers, a hole-in-one is the ultimate dream: sinking the ball directly from the tee into the cup on a par-3 hole. It's rare and exhilarating, often celebrated with high-fives and cheers.
As the tournament unfolds, fans are buzzing about whether hometown heroes like Sei Young Kim gain an unfair boost from supportive crowds – is it pure talent, or does the energy of family and fans sway the outcome? This raises a controversial point: some argue that local players have an edge, while others say it's all about skill on the day. What do you think? Does playing near home tilt the playing field, or is it just added fun? Share your opinions in the comments – do you agree that home advantage matters, or disagree? Let's discuss!
