Minjee Lee grabs Blue Bay lead with opening 65
Minjee Lee has fired a seven-under 65 to seize a one-shot lead after the opening round of the Blue Bay LPGA event in Hainan Island, China.
Lee’s bogey-free round at Jian Lake Blue Bay Golf Course started at No. 10 and featured four birdies on the back nine and three on the front.
The Australian, who won this tournament in 2016, said her strategy paid off with the tricky greens. She hit 17 of 18 greens and finished with 28 putts.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I hit a lot of good lag putts and just tried to be on the right parts of the green,” she said. “They’re so small and the hills are so severe that I think sometimes you just can’t help it. You just have to accept it and then just accept the putt that you have.”
Lee’s brother, Min-Woo Lee, came second on Sunday in the PGA event at Palm Beach Gardens, his best finish on the PGA Tour.
Sarah Schmelzel carded the day’s only other bogey-free round and is tied for second at six-under with China’s Ruixin Liu and Miranda Wang.
Eleven players are within three shots of the leader heading into Friday. including New Zealand’s Lydia Ko on four-under.
Defending champion Gaby Lopez of Mexico is tied for 31st place after posting a 71. That’s the same score carded by 14-year-old amateur Yijia Ren of China.
