CLIFTON, New Jersey –– Sei Young Kim of South Korea is the first-round leader at the Cognizant Founders Cup after shooting a bogey-free, 6-under 66 at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, New Jersey.
Kim, 30, posted four straight birdies just before parring the final three holes to take a one-stroke lead into Friday’s second round. The 2016 tournament winner birdied the par-5 12th, par-4 13th, par-5 14th and par-3 15th.
“Learned a lot from the last year, because this week (you) really need the good tee shot,” Kim said. “If you (have a) good tee shot, you have a good advantage on par-5s.”
Kim has 12 LPGA Tour titles, but the last two came in 2020.
South Korean rookie Hae Ran Ryu posted eight birdies and three bogeys to finish at 67.
“I was a little bit worried when I started because the fairway is really narrow here,” Ryu said. “But I think I changed my mind (about the course).”
Nine players are tied for third at 68, including defending champion Minjee Lee of Australia, Jin Young Ko of South Korea and Stacy Lewis. Cheyenne Knight, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka, Thailand’s Atthaya Thitikul, Taiwan’s Peiyun Chien, Canada’s Maddie Szeryk and South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi are also at 68.
Lee started her round on the back nine, making three birdies and three bogeys, before playing her final nine at 4 under, Reuters reported.
Ko, who won the event in 2019 and 2021, endured an uneven stretch from No. 16 to No. 7 with a double bogey, a bogey and seven birdies.
“Little tough to focus my game because physically (I’m) a little bit tired,” said Ko, who is playing for the fourth straight week. “Just less practice before the tee off and less putting, and just eat a little more and sleep a little more. Just save my energy before the tee off.”
Lexi Thompson opened with a 70, while world No. 1 Nelly Korda and New Zealand’s Lydia Ko each shot 72.
Elsewhere, Seung-Yul Noh survived a broken driver to shoot an opening 60 and a three-stroke lead after the first round of the AT&T Byron Nelson near Dallas.
The South Korean – who has won once on the PGA Tour – cracked the head of his driver on the 12th tee, but matched his outward nine of 30 on the way home with birdies on three of the last four holes.
That leaves him three clear of Australia’s Adam Scott and Zecheng Dou of China with world number two Scottie Sheffler and Jason Day among those a further stroke back
Scott’s 63 was his lowest opening round for nine years after tying for fifth at the Wells Fargo Championship last week.
“The game was feeling really good there last week and getting a result is always good for the confidence,” said Scott. “Coming here on a course that’s going to throw a lot of birdies out there, getting in that attack mindset was key.”
Scheffler had struggled with his putting before a three-week break and missed five putts from within 10 feet before a strong finish capped by an eagle on the last.
“I was pretty frustrated mid round,” he said.
“I didn’t feel like I was doing anything wrong, I just kind of got on the wrong end of a few things and the putts definitely weren’t falling middle of the round.”
I’ll remember those putts towards the end and the beginning of the round, I hit a lot of good putts and was fortunate to shoot a good round.”
England’s Harry Hall had four birdies in five holes to the turn en-route to an opening 67, one better than Tyrell Hatton.
