Shin Ji-ae (34) reduced 6 strokes on the first day of the KKT Cup Vantelin Ladies (total prize money of 100 million yen) of the JLPGA Tour, leading by one stroke, taking one step closer to her 30th win in Japan.
In the first round of the tournament held at the Kumamoto Airport Country Club (par 72, 6,523 yards) in Kikuyo, Kumamoto Prefecture,안전놀이터 Japan on the 14th, Shin Ji-ae tied 7 birdies and 1 bogey and shot 66.
After exchanging holes 1 and 2 for birdies and bogeys, Ji-ae Shin birdied holes 5 and 3 in a row from the 11th hole in the second half to rise to the lead, then reduced the number of strokes again on the 16th and 17th holes.
“I did everything I could today,” said Shin Ji-ae, who finished the game.
After winning the season opener, the Daikin Orchid Ladies, last month, he missed several games to protect a muscle in his elbow that had undergone surgery. So, she added, “Maybe because I took two games off, I was confident that I could play well today.”
Aki Iwai hit 5-under-par 67 for second place, and Ah-reum Hwang (35) hit 4-under-par 68 with five birdies and one bogey, tied for third place with Yuka Yasuda.