So Yeon Ryu provided the early fireworks at the Meijer LPGA Classic for Simply Give with an 8-under, 64 to grab the early lead in Grand Rapids on Thursday. The 8-under is her best round of the season and lowest since her 10-under, 61 at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in June of 2017.
Towards the end of the first wave, Kelly Shon closed with an eagle on eight and a birdie on nine to match Ryu with a 64. Shon played her inward nine in 29 with five birdies and an eagle. She made seven birdies on the day.
Ryu, the No. 6 ranked player in the world, wasted no time getting started with birdies on holes one and two. She also tallied birdies on six, seven and eight to make the turn in 31. Ryu never really let off the gas pedal with birdies on 11, 16 and 17 to post the bogey-free gem.
"I've been working really hard with my coach and we've been really focused on speed control on the greens," explained Ryu. "It finally paid off today."
The five-time LPGA winner has been uncharacteristically quiet this season with just a pair of top 10s in 11 starts.
"This season, I'm not really fully satisfied with it," explained Ryu. "So hopefully this week it's going to start playing really well and hopefully I can win this tournament."
Historically, Ryu has been very good at Blythefield Country Club. While she didn't play in Grand Rapids in 2017, she finished sixth in 2016 and T4 in 2015.
For Shon, 2018 has been tough. She said she hasn't smiled as much as she did on Thursday all year long because she has missed six cuts and her best finish is a T42.
"I'm doing so many things so well that it's so hard to believe I'm getting what I'm getting," said Shon about her results this year. "So as tough as it is, I've been still keeping my head down, just working as hard as I could doing the same things, and so yeah, to be honest, I have been kind of been waiting for a round like this."Lizette Salas, who still has a chance to make Team USA at the UL International Crown, helped her chances with a 6-under, 66. Salas made three straight birdies to close her outward nine and then entered the clubhouse with birdies on two of her final three holes.
Salas ranks No. 26 in the world and is currently the sixth highest ranked American. Michelle Wie is the fourth highest ranked at No. 15.
South African Lee-Anne Pace carded a 5-under, 67, as did Caroline Masson.
Morgan Pressel, who spent summers as a kid living in Grosse Point, Michigan with family and playing the PowerBuilt Tour, turned in a 4-under, 68.
“I’ve been comfortable at this event since day one and a lot of that is due to Meijer,” said Pressel. “A big part of it is the community. That makes it a lot of fun to come play.”
Defending champion Brooke Henderson opened with a 3-under, 69.
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