Second-year LPGA Tour player Hyo-Jun Jang is tied for the lead after the first day of the Portland Classic ($1.75 million purse).

Jang fired an 8-under 64 with one bogey and nine birdies in the first round of the tournament at the par-72 Columbia Edgewater Country Club in Portland, Oregon, USA, on Sunday.

Jang finished the first day in a tie for second place, one stroke behind Polly Mack (GER), who carded an eagle and seven birdies for a 9-under 63 with no bogeys.

Jang, who moved to the United States at the age of 15 and played on the LPGA‘s secondary tour (Epson Tour) before making her full-time tour debut last year, has no wins and just one top-10 in her career.

Her only other top-10 was a tie for 10th at last year’s Portland Classic.

Starting on the 10th hole, Jang was not very accurate off the tee, but she only missed the green three times and made 24 putts.

“I made a lot of important par saves in the first nine holes, which helped me get to 8-under par,” Jang told the LPGA Tour. “I made a lot of par putts from about 10 feet (3 meters) during the first nine holes.”

“I played well here last year, so I have a lot of confidence. I really like this course,” he added.

Mack, who also shares the lead, made her LPGA Tour debut in 2023 and has just one top-10 finish without a win. Her average driving distance of 283 yards leads the field.

Three players, including Karoline Masson (GER), round out the top two alongside Jang.

With the women’s Olympic golf tournament in Paris next week, many of the top players were absent from the tournament, but Isomi was able to take advantage.

Lee, who joined the LPGA Tour this year through the Qualifying School, shot a 6-under 66 to tie for sixth place with Shin Ji-eun.

Park Hee-young, a 37-year-old veteran, shot a 5-under 67, while Anna Rin, Kim Arim and Jeon Ji-won rounded out the top 10 at 4-under 68. 파워볼실시간