The opening 18 holes of the LPGA Drive On Championship are complete, and two familiar names are at the top of the leaderboard. Bradenton native and 2016 Epson Tour graduate, Nelly Korda, and last week's Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions winner, Lydia Ko, lead the field at 6-under. Five other Epson Tour graduates, including Nanna Koerstz Madsen (2017), Lucy Li (2022) and Marina Alex (2013), trail closely behind Korda and Ko, making up the top 10.
Of the recent class of graduates, Minji Kang is already making her name known. The 2024 LPGA Tour rookie leads the way for the 2023 graduates, signing for a first-round, bogey-free 67. Thursday’s round marked a first for Kang, as she teed it up on the LPGA for the first time, and the Republic of Korea native made an impressive start to her young career. The Truett McConnell University alumna is joined by fellow graduate, Auston Kim, in the top 10 after the first round at Bradenton Country Club.
Check out where all of the 2023 Epson Tour graduates stand through 18 holes at the LPGA Drive On Championship:
- Minji Kang (-4, T4)
- Auston Kim (-3, T9)
- Isabella Fierro (-2, T14)
- Jiwon Jeon (-1, T25)
- Gabriela Ruffels (+1, T58)
- Kristen Gillman (+1, T58)
- Jenny Coleman (+2, T73)
- Agathe Laisne (+5, T108)
- Roberta Liti (+5, T108)
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