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5 Koreans in top 10 at LPGA season opener, Ko shines despite switch to contacts

January 28, 2015

Na Yeon Choi of South Korea watches the flight of her ball from the 10th tee during the first round of the LPGA's Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/The Star-Banner Photo, Bruce Ackerman)

Choi Na Yeon of South Korea watches the flight of her ball from the 10th tee during the first round of the LPGA’s Coates Golf Championship at Golden Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla., on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. (AP Photo/The Star-Banner Photo, Bruce Ackerman)

By Brian Han

With cold and windy conditions at the LPGA season opener, less than a quarter of the field was able to shoot under-par on the first day of the Coates Golf Championship at the Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club in Ocala, Fla.

Among those players were seven South Korean golfers including world No. 1 Park Inbee who is currently tied-for-15th after posting a 1-under 71.

Other notables include Jang Ha-na who shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 and leads all South Koreans in the event at tied-for-fourth.

The 22-year-old is technically in her rookie year, but she has performed well in big events such as the 2014 Evian Championship where she finished tied-for-third.

Choi Na-yeon (4-under 68), Hur Mi-jung (3-under 69), Lee Mi-hyang and Yoo Sun-young (2-under 70) all played well enough to also place in the top-10 after the opening round.

Jessica Korda, Stacy Lewis and Azahara Munoz all posted 6-under 66 to lead the entire field.

World No.2 Lydia Ko shot a 4-under 69 to prove that her switch from glasses to contact lenses have had little to no effect on her game so far.