Karis Davidson and Yuri Yoshida take the lead

Karis Davidson from Australia and Yuri Yoshida from Japan took the lead at the BMW Ladies Championship on Thursday with a score of 66 (-6) at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam. Their strong finish included six birdies on their last eight holes, despite a bogey on the final hole.

Haeran Ryu remains in contention

Haeran Ryu, a double major winner this season, shot a score of 67 (-5) without a single bogey, staying one shot behind the leaders. As a South Korean player competing at home, Ryu is ranked third in the world and is expected to be a strong contender in the second round.

Multiple players close behind

Three other players—Julia Lopez Ramirez from Spain and Americans Lauren Coughlin and Lucy Li—shared third place at -5, each shooting a 67. Lopez Ramirez, a member of the Solheim Cup-winning team in the Netherlands, had a strong start with five birdies on her first nine holes.

Other players in the mix

Melanie Green of the United States followed at -4, while Spanish player Carlota Ciganda and Japanese player Chizzy Iwai were at -3. The defending champion, South Korean Sei Young Kim, had a more subdued first round, finishing with a score in the par range.

French players have mixed results

Céline Boutier and Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, two French players in the tournament, had contrasting first days. Boutier, a former world number three and this season’s winner, struggled with five bogeys and a double bogey, ending with a score of 77 (+5) and placing her 77th.

Roussin-Bouchard shows promise

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, who traveled from China where she had a positive finish, scored 72 on the first day. She managed 13 greens in regulation with 32 putts, giving her a good chance to improve her standing. She is currently ranked 40th.