CHONBURI, THAILAND — The LPGA continues its international travels in Thailand at the Pattaya Old Course. Pattaya will be hosting one of the most talented fields in women’s golf, including the Thailand native and defending champion, Ariya Jutanugran. After the first round of play, the leaderboard was full of low scores and bogey-free rounds. It’s not every day you see a three bogey-free rounds tie for first after round one. Playing at 6,576-yards, Pattaya will be very attackable and score-friendly for the strong field this week.
Rookie looking for first LPGA win after bogey-free round
Esther Henseleit fired a bogey-free first-round score of 9-under putting her in a three-way tie for first. The 23-year-old joined the LPGA in 2020 and is searching for her first win on tour at Pattaya this week.
Henseleit recorded nine total birdies to cap off round one taking advantage of the 14 of 18 greens in regulation she hit. She hit 11 of 14 fairways, with an average driving distance of 281-yards. Henseleit’s length off the tee will make most of the holes very attackable.
Nasa Hataoka with nearly perfect stats
The 23-year-old Nasa Hataoka has made quite the name for herself after winning five LPGA tournaments in just under three years. She made her presence known during the first round after recording nine birdies for a first-round score of 9-under 63. Not only did she record a bogey-free round, but she also had a nearly perfect stat card. Nasa Hataoka hit 14 of 14 fairways and 18 of 18 greens in regulation.
To make the round even more impressive, she recorded 2 of 2 sand saves. Hataoka had an average driving distance of 262-yards and recorded 27 total putts for the round. Hataoko was hot around the greens during the first round, allowing herself to score so low.
Hataoka ended the first round in a three-way tie for first with a one-stroke lead over second place, Xiyu Lin.
Su-Hyun Oh off to hot start
Su-Hyun Oh played a brilliant first round, shooting a 9-under 63. She joined the bogey-free fun at the top of the leaderboard with Henseleit and Hataoka. Oh also recorded nine birdies for the day, hitting 12 of 18 greens in regulation. Oh averaged 248-yards off the tee, hitting 12 of 18 greens in regulation.
Although Oh missed a handful of greens, she was able to record 2 of 2 sand saves to save par and continue the bogey-free round. She was faced with one of these opportunities on the par-4 9th, where she had a difficult short-sided bunker shot. Oh clipped the ball nicely out of the bunker leaving herself a simple par putt.
