LOS ANGELES – Jennifer Kupcho made seven birdies on Thursday within the opening spherical of the 81st U.S. Girls’s Open for a 5-under 66 and a one-shot lead over Sei-young Kim.
Kupcho, 29, has 4 profession wins on the LPGA Tour, however just one since his solely main win on the Chevron Championship at Mission Hills in 2022. He had come up quick in his previous three U.S. Open begins, however at Riviera he made three consecutive birdies within the afternoon group to take the lead, then added back-to-back birdies after the flip.
“I actually, actually love the golf course,” Kupcho mentioned. “This is sort of a ball hitter’s paradise. Simply hit the ball within the fairway, hit the ball on the inexperienced, and make the putt.”
Play started beneath thick clouds on the century-old nation membership in Pacific Palisades, simply two miles from the ocean, however the wind picked up and the solar got here out by noon. Situations weren’t troublesome at any level, however the gamers knew the Riviera set-up can be a formidable problem in any climate, and the scores mirrored that.
Within the first spherical, the complete discipline recorded only one eagle, however Arisen Corpus holed out from 86 yards on No. 17.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno have been in the identical group with South Korea’s Yoo Hyun-jo, Yoon In-ah, and Kang Min-ji with a rating of 68. Lopez made 5 birdies within the first eight holes and was the one one to achieve 6 beneath par, however fell behind with three bogeys.
Kupcho gained a 4.27 stroke on his strategy shot to take the lead within the first spherical, highlighted by a shocking 133-yard inside shot on the second gap. She would not normally do in depth analysis on programs earlier than a event, regardless of her dad and mom’ urging, however she got here to the Riviera on a scouting journey two months in the past when the LPGA Tour was canceled 13 miles away in Tarzana.
“When he confirmed up this week, it was like he knew the place all the things was,” Kupcho mentioned. “I knew what I used to be doing. So I feel that really helped. Mother and father are all the time proper, proper?”
Kim, 33, has been taking part in fairly effectively in sprawling Los Angeles this season. On the JM Eagle LA Championship held at El Caballero in April, she briefly led by eight strokes after the second and third rounds, however misplaced by three strokes within the remaining eight holes and misplaced to Australia’s Hannah Inexperienced in a playoff.
“This course could be very well-known around the globe, so I am very joyful to have the ability to play right here this week,” mentioned Kim, who additionally obtained a head begin at Riviera in apply final weekend. “Additionally, the course just isn’t simple. Each gap challenges me.”
Kim birdied the primary two holes, however the spherical did not choose up momentum till the ultimate 4 holes. There, she made three straight birdies, together with two nice strategy photographs and a 29-foot birdie putt, ending with one other 29-foot par putt.
World No. 1 Nelly Korda struggled off the tee and obtained off to a tough begin with two overs. She additionally had hassle getting used to the brand new sneakers she acquired this week from Nike and LeBron James, a Korda fan who can be changing into an avid golfer himself.
Korda began the day carrying new sneakers, however performed the primary six holes in new sneakers, which he mentioned didn’t have an effect on his play.
“It wasn’t a fantastic day,” Korda mentioned. “Actually, I don’t know the place this got here from as a result of I used to be hitting rather well Monday via Wednesday, so I will go to the apply vary.”
Aphrodite Deng, a 16-year-old newbie, was battling for the lead, however she shot a 70 after taking part in the ultimate two holes in three overs.
Mr. Deng was born in Canada to Chinese language dad and mom, then grew up in New Jersey and finally settled in Florida. Deng Xiaoping, who was a baby determine skater for a number of years earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, began taking part in golf solely seven years in the past, however received final yr’s U.S. Girls’s Junior Championship.
