Sei Young Kim takes first-round lead in T-Mobile Match Play

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Sei Younger Kim took benefit of splendid taking part in situations Wednesday, capturing a 6-under 66 within the opening spherical of the T-Cellular Match Play.

Las Vegas-area residents Danielle Kang and Rose Zhang, making one of the best use of not having to go on the street, had been every only a stroke behind.

Prime-ranked Nelly Korda has some work to do to increase her three-tournament profitable streak after capturing a 73. Lorena Ochoa, in 2008, was the final LPGA Tour participant to win 4 in a row.

The highest 65 gamers plus ties after the primary two days will advance to the third spherical Friday, after which the highest eight gamers will compete in match play over the weekend. This event was solely a match-play occasion its first three years, however the format modified this 12 months and attracted simply the strongest subject in its quick historical past.

Scores could possibly be noticeably larger Thursday after gamers competed in calm situations with a excessive within the 80s. Wind with gusts of greater than 40 mph will greet the gamers within the second spherical, and the forecast excessive for Friday was for 59 levels. Highs are anticipated to be within the 60s over the weekend.

Fifteen gamers broke par within the first spherical.

Kim, the 2020 Participant of the 12 months, started robust with birdies on six of her first 10 holes. She answered a bogey on the par-4 14th with a birdie two holes afterward a par 5.

“The entrance 9 I did not anticipate I play that effectively,” Kim mentioned.

Shadow Creek is Kang’s dwelling course, however she is not assuming something this week. She completed within the prime 5 on this planet in 2019 and 2020 and within the prime 20 the next two years, however Kang introduced in 2022 {that a} tumor was found on her backbone.

Her rating dropped to forty eighth final 12 months and she or he entered this event 59th, so a robust exhibiting this week might get the 31-year-old headed in the precise path.

Kang sounded Wednesday like a participant with the attitude of to not studying an excessive amount of into the results of any spherical. Kang’s thoughts after the spherical was on seeing her coach, strolling her canine and cooking dinner fairly than what might occur Thursday.

“Generally I do not even know the purpose of Thursday, Friday, Saturday except it is Sunday,” mentioned Kang, who made abut a 75-foot birdie putt on her closing gap. “All I can do is keep within the current and play my recreation and execute the pictures and execute the way in which I usually do.”

Zhang would not name Shadow Creek dwelling, having performed on the course simply twice, however she will get to remain dwelling this week.

After turning into the primary girl to win faculty golf’s nationwide championship twice, in 2022 and 2023, she left Stanford final 12 months after which gained her first LPGA Tour occasion. That solely elevated the already lofty expectations for Zhang.

However Zhang, 20, remains to be trying to find his second victory. Ranked twenty third, perhaps that can occur this week. Ending the primary spherical with 4 consecutive birdies actually would not harm.

“I gave myself many alternatives,” Zhang mentioned. “I used to be capable of form of pin search somewhat bit extra. Felt actually assured with my irons and I had good yardages coming in. Received a pair putts inside 5, six toes, inside three toes, and that actually helped me.”