4 Australians are within the prime six of the Meijer LPGA Basic with rising star Grace Kim only one shot again from chief Lee Mi-Hyang after the primary spherical in Michigan.
Kim shot an excellent seven-under par 65, which included an eagle on the par 5 tenth in addition to six birdies.
The 24-year-old additionally boasted back-to-back chip-ins, first for eagle after which birdie, as she shot up the leaderboard with compatriots Karis Davidson (-6), Minjee Lee (-5), Gabriela Ruffels (-5) and Cassie Porter (-4) all making promising begins.
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“That was a very good begin to the again 9,” Kim mentioned.
“Had 23 putts I believe as we speak, in order that all the time helps,” she added.
LEADERBOARD: All of the scores from the Meijer LPGA Basic
Kim is enjoying with out common caddie Drew Ernst, who’s taking the week off to welcome the start of his first youngster.
“Drew, simply had a child on Saturday final week. He’s so foolish. He goes, I can come Wednesday evening when you really need me,” Kim mentioned with fun.
“I’m like, are you joking? No means. Your spouse would kill me.”
The change-up didn’t hassle her, not did the reminiscences of taking a five-shot lead into the ultimate spherical of this occasion final 12 months at Blythefield Nation Membership earlier than falling to Lilia Vu in a playoff.
“I believe now that it’s my third time right here I do know what it ought to do,” Kim mentioned.
“All I have to do is attempt to simply putt, not overthink it as a lot.”
Davidson is amongst a trio of gamers sharing third place after she made six birdies in a bogey free spherical of 66.
The 26-year-old has loved a flip round in kind in latest occasions.
She missed the minimize in her first 4 tournaments of the 12 months, however has made the weekend 4 occasions in a row since together with tied twenty sixth and tied sixteenth finishes in her most up-to-date begins.
“I’ve actually been engaged on my swing aircraft,” Davidson mentioned.
“It was a bit of bit flat so the numbers are typically inconsistent since you type of shut the face or open it.
“So been engaged on that and it’s helped with consistency with numbers. After which with placing, only a bit extra visualisation into the opening relatively than specializing in good strokes each time. So I’d say that positively helped as we speak.
Davidson added: “Yeah, it’s actually cool (to be in rivalry). Yeah, actually happy with myself for type of sticking in there. Yeah, feels actually good.”
Lee and Ruffels in the meantime are a part of the group of six sharing sixth place after rounds of 67.
Twenty-five-year-old Ruffels, who was as soon as Australia’s prime ranked junior tennis participant, stormed him with 4 birdies in her final six holes to bounce again from lacking the minimize on the latest US Ladies’s Open.
Two-time main champion Lee in the meantime made six birdies to additionally reply from disappointment at the latest main – she shot 77 within the closing spherical to fall to tied twenty second.
“I began on the again 9 and turned in 4-under, so it’s all the time good to get off to a very good begin. Yeah, birdied 11 and 12 so it was simply good to get some momentum going for the remainder of the day,” Lee mentioned.
She added: “I took every week off after U.S. Open and I used to be practising a bit of bit, and it’s good to only have a pair occasions which you could feed off momentum-wise.
“So, no, I imply, I’m making an attempt to do my best possible right here in addition to subsequent week; it’s a serious. So numerous essential weeks arising as effectively. Yeah, it will be good to get a very good end result right here first.”
LPGA Tour rookie Cassie Porter is the opposite member of the five-strong Australian cost as she shot a 68 with just one bogey on the cardboard.
The 22-year-old has missed the minimize in her final three occasions, and 4 of her final 5, however her opening spherical was welcome return to the type of kind that resulted in her ending fourth in simply the second match of her debut season.
Robyn Choi and Sarah Kemp are solely an extra shot again at -3, making it seven Australians within the prime 24, whereas Steph Kyriacou (-2) can be contained in the projected minimize line.
Hira Naveed (+2) and world No.6 Hannah Inexperienced (+3) might want to flip issues round within the second spherical to strive get each member of the 10-strong Australian contingent into the weekend.