SANYA, China — The LPGA Blue Bay tournament kicked off with a trio of golfers sharing the top spot on the leaderboard after the opening round. Ayaka Furue, A Lim Kim, and Auston Kim all delivered impressive performances, finishing Thursday with scores of 4-under-par 68. Their strong start has set the pace for an intense competition over the coming days.
Jeeno Thitikul, currently ranked as the world No. 2, is close behind them. Thitikul completed the round just one shot off the lead, alongside seven other competitors, marking a promising start for this group on China’s picturesque southern island of Hainan.
The first round unfolded with a highly competitive field, as evidenced by 12 additional players finishing merely two strokes behind the leading trio after carding rounds of 70. The pack remains tightly knit, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament.
Ruoning Yin, ranked No. 4 globally, played to her home crowd’s delight, though she finished her round with an even-par score of 72. Her local supporters remain hopeful for a strong showing in the rounds to come.
Meanwhile, defending champion Bailey Tardy faced challenges in her opening performance, finishing with a score of 3-over-par 75, which places her seven strokes behind the leaders. Tardy will be looking to make a comeback as the tournament progresses.
