S. Korean golf rookie leads Kumho Tire Ladies Open

Park Se-yeong set the early pace during the opening round of the Kumho Tire Ladies Open on Friday when the South Korean rookie carded a scorching seven-under-par 65 for a three-shot lead in Shandong province.

Defending champion Kim Hyo-joo, the world No. 4, birdied the final hole at Weihai Point Golf Club for a 68 and a share of second place with Korean compatriot Ji Han-sol and Chinese Taipei's Chien Pei-yun.

World No. 6 Feng Shanshan of China shot 69 to sit four strokes back in a group with South Koreans Kim Hui-mang, Chung Jae-eun, Kim Do-yeon and Kim Cho-hui at the 450,000-US-dollar championship, a China LPGA Tour-LPGA Tour of Korea co-sponsored event.

Starting her round in the early morning with little wind and sunny conditions at Weihai Point, built on a peninsula that juts out into Bohai Bay, the 18-year-old Park birdied the par-five, 500-yard opening hole. After a bogey five at the next, the teenager got her game going with three straight birdies. She then picked up two more strokes with birdies at the eighth and ninth holes to make the turn at five-under 31.

On the back nine, the Gangwon-do native, who had previously missed the cut in all 11 KLPGA events she had played this year, carded three more birdies and a bogey for her impressive start.

"Today I tried to be play easily and simply. I had a lot of birdies, but I wasn't emotional and just kept going. The golf course is not long. If you drive well you could have a good score. I was confident and all went as planned," Park said.

"I changed my swing recently. I had more than swing problems. I missed so many cuts because of my mental game. I was too ambitious. I was hugely driven to have a good finish, which might backfire. My goal this year is to keep my card. The rookie of the year is on my mind, too."

Kim Hyo-joo, who has been an immediate force during her rookie season on the US LPGA Tour with one win and seven top-10 finishes, carded a bogey five at the 345-yard third hole. The 19-year-old then settled down with three consecutive birdies starting at the sixth hole.

"I had a slow start and felt a little bit pressure after that bogey. But you know, there is a lot of golf left so I calmed down. I played well and I am just three shots behind," said the Bundang native who won by a commanding seven strokes last year.

Chinese ace Feng birdied the first hole, but then had to battle to stay in contention in an erratic round that included six birdies and three bogeys.

"Sixty-nine is a good score here because you couldn't be mistake-free. I played with a happy mind, which is the most important to me now. I played solid not just at the end but for the whole day," said the Guangdong native who won the Buick Ladies Championship in May.

"The only problem is green speed. The practice green's speed is different from those out there, so I didn't practice a lot before the round. I just felt a little bit uncomfortable on the greens. But overall it's okay."

Kumho Tire Ladies Open first round leading scores (China unless stated):

65 - Park Se-yeong (South Korea)

68 - Chien Pei-yun (Chinese Taipei), Ji Han-sol (South Korea), Kim Hyo-joo (South Korea)

69 - Kim Hui-mang (South Korea), Feng Shanshan, Lee Rye-jung (South Korea), Kim Do-yeon (South Korea), Chung Jae-eun (South Korea)

70 - Lee Hye-jung (South Korea), Kim Cho-hui (South Korea), Jang Ha-na (South Korea), Choi Yoo-lim (South Korea). Endi