Jenny Shin was moving and shaking on Friday at the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, blitzing the Bay Course at Seaview, a Dolce Hotel, with a bogey-free, 6-under 65. Starting her day on No. 10, the Republic of Korea native started slowly with three consecutive pars on holes 10, 11 and 12, breaking through with back-to-back birdies on 13 and 14. She grabbed another birdie on the par-3, 17th to turn in 31, and made two more birdies on Nos. 2 and 3 to move to 5-under. Shin then made five consecutive pars from holes 4 to 8, making one last birdie on the par-5, 9th hole to close out the 65 and give herself a share of the lead after the morning wave.
"Felt great. Bogey-free rounds are always very happy rounds," said Shin, who hit 12 of 14 fairways and 13 of 18 greens. "I dropped the putts when I needed to and I hit some good shots coming into the par-5s and gave myself really good opportunities for birdie. So, yeah, good round overall."
This is Shin's tenth start of the 2023 season, and in her nine previous events, she has recorded two top-20 finishes, a T17 at the Mizuho Americas Open and a 17th at the Bank of Hope LPGA Match-Play presented by MGM Rewards. The 65 is her lowest round since day one of the LPGA Drive On Championship at Superstition Mountain earlier this season and ties her lowest first-round score at the ShopRite LPGA Classic. She last opened with a 65 in the 2017 edition of the event, ultimately finishing in a tie for third, her best result in her 12 previous showings at Seaview. With another solid round of golf under her belt, Shin will keep things simple as she looks ahead to the next 36 holes and hopes that this 65 will help bolster her confidence as she searches for her first LPGA Tour victory since 2016.
"Just overall, everything has gotten significantly better compared to the past five years. I feel like putting, short game, the mentality over the ball, getting around the golf course, the whole, general part of the game I feel like I'm getting better. I've had some decent rounds this year, and that helped my confidence go up a little bit," said Shin. "Three-day event. First day is pretty crucial, and I think I did that part right. Tomorrow is going to be a battle with the wind, so nothing changes. Going to keep everything pretty simple. It's still 36 holes. Long way to go."
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