Fast start propels Sei Young to early lead in Shanghai

Sei Young Kim carded a course-record 28 on the back nine and finished with a 10-under 62 on Thursday to seize a two-stroke lead after the first round of the Buick LPGA Shanghai tournament.

Starting on the back nine, Kim bolted to a fast start with five consecutive birdies on holes Nos. 10-14 at the Qizhong Garden Golf Club.

The South Korean highlighted her round with an eagle on the 17th hole and made the turn at 8-under-par 28 to beat the previous record of 30, set by defending champion Angel Yin in 2018 and matched by Madelene Sagstrom in 2023.

"After turn the nine hole I'm kind of, oh, I shoot 8-under. I never play like that, so I was a little bit of nervous," Kim said. "I don't know. Then I try to calm down but after that my body reaction a little bit like tight, and then after couple holes I keep par and after bogey one hole, and I realise, OK, I just keep going what I did is front nine, and I able to knock three birdies and strong finish."

Kim holds a two-stroke lead over Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, who highlighted her bogey-free round with six straight birdies from Nos. 9-14.

Boutier is bidding to win in China for the second consecutive week after emerging victorious at the Ladies European Tour at the Aramco Team Series-Shenzen.

"Yeah, I think definitely the time change and traveling, just the week ahead, it definitely helped me to fight the jet lag and just being able to get accustomed to the time zone and the temperature, everything around here," Boutier said. "And then just having also a solid week last week has definitely helped feeling more confident this week."

Luci Li collected eight birdies against one bogey to reside alone in third place after shooting a 65.

"I'm just hitting the ball good again," Li said. "Been working hard on my putting, and so I have been seeing some results. I still need to be putting better, but just being able to hit it well again is good. I think just having a good mindset. Like I said, one shot at a time. That's really important."

Peiyun Chien of Taiwan, Leona Maguire of Ireland, Muni He of China and Chanettee Wannasaen of Thailand each shot a 66 to sit in a tie for fourth place.

Yin carded a bogey-free round to reside as part of a seven-golfer contingent tied for eighth place at 5-under.