Australians, Minjee Lee and Su Oh, have both made impressive starts at the Taiwan Swinging Skirts LPGA event in New Taipei City, Lee just one off the first round lead held by Korean Mi Jung Hur and defending champion Nelly Korda.
The round was played in at times wet and windy conditions but the scoring remained good with 28 players breaking par.
Lee has a good record in this event including a runner-up finish last year and today she produced a back nine of 4 under 32 to get within one of the overnight lead, her only hiccup coming at the 7th hole which she bogeyed.
“Yeah, definitely. I mean, I played pretty well,” said Lee when asked to assess her round. “I just sort of made a couple soft mistakes here and there. I guess the difference between me having a like really, really good round and just like an average round is that.
“I’m just trying to eliminate those and have a good score.”
Oh is playing the event for the fourth time with a best to date of 20th on debut three years ago. Her round was impacted by a double bogey at her 9th hole but, that aside, it was an encouraging start as she chases her first top ten since a runner-up finish at the Meijer Classic in June.
Lee is on her own in 3rd place while Oh is in a share of 4th place.
Katherine Kirk is in 60th place while Hannah Green continues her indifferent recent form after winning in August to be tied for 69th after her round of 76 which included five dropped shots in two consecutive holes early in her round.
The leader Hur has generally struggled in this event in the past but it was a different matter today with a bogey free round of 66 to lead by one.
