Lee Jae-kyung (24-CJ) took a one-shot lead on the first day of the Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Korean Tour’s KB Financial Live Championship안전놀이터 ($700 million purse).
Lee carded five birdies and a bogey for a 4-under 68 in the first round of the tournament at Blackstone Golf Club (Par 72) in Icheon on Friday.
Lee started the tournament tied for the lead with Kim Min-soo (33-Volvik) and Canadian Lee Tae-hoon.
The 2019 Korean Tour Rookie of the Year has been a consistent performer on the tour with two career wins and four runner-up finishes. However, she hasn’t won a tournament since winning the Genesis Championship in 2021 and will be looking for her third victory here.
After parring his first nine holes, Lee picked up steam in the second half.
She birdied the first hole of the back nine, the par-5 1st, and then dropped another shot at the par-3 3rd. After making her only bogey of the day on the fifth (par-5), Lee birdied the sixth (par-4).
She followed that up with back-to-back birdies on the eighth (par-4) and ninth (par-4) to finish tied for the lead.
Kim Min-soo carded four birdies, an eagle and two bogeys to finish at 4-under par, while Lee Tae-hoon joined him with three birdies, an eagle and a bogey.
Seo Yoseop (27-DB Insurance) and Kim Jae-ho (41-Woosung General Construction) are tied for fourth at 3-under par 69, one shot behind the leaders.