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Ha Na Jang leads at LPGA Marathon Classic, 5 S. Koreans in top-6

July 16, 2015
United States’ Jordan Spieth, left, and United States’ Dustin Johnson speak before playing from the 15th tee during the first round of the British Open Golf Championship at the Old Course, St. Andrews, Scotland, Thursday, July 16, 2015. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

South Korean golfer Ha Na Jang leads after the opening round on Thursday after shooting a five-under 66 at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

By Brian Han

South Korean golfer Ha Na Jang took the opening round lead on Thursday at the Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio after shooting a five-under 66.

Jang was sharp off the tee hitting 13 of 14 fairways, which translated to accurate approach shots and therefore quite a few birdie opportunities.

The 23-year-old rookie topped the field with six birdies on the round.

Within the event’s top six spots were four more South Korean players including Jenny Shin, Mirim Lee, Q Baek and Sei Young Kim, all of whom shot a 3-under 68.

Although the Marathon Classic isn’t a major and is in the shadow of the British Open this week, it does represent golf history in the making.

So far in the 2015 season South Koreans have been winning LPGA tournaments at an unprecedented pace and have won 10 of the last 17 events — that’s excluding Lydia Ko (two wins in 2015) and Minjee Lee (one win) who were born in South Korea, but identify as a New Zealander and Australian, respectively.

With the wide range of South Korean talent on the tour, it is more than likely that the record for 11 wins in a single season will be broken ushering in the country’s most dominant era in the sport.

Defending champion Lydia Ko shot an even-par 71 to put her in a tie for 40th and world No. 1 Inbee Park shot a 1-under 70 and is currently tied for 30th.