Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Australia’s Grace Kim fired a four-under 66 to make a strong start at The ANNIKA, as the race to qualify for the prestigious Tour Championship intensifies.
With only the top 60 progressing to the LPGA Tour’s season finale at the Tiburon Golf Club from November 19-22, it is hotting up in the penultimate event before the final field is determined for Naples.
As it stands after Thursday’s opening round, a host of Australians are well positioned to join compatriot Hannah Green – not playing here – in Florida, but it’s touch and go.
Kim did her chances a world of good at Pelican Golf Club with her five birdies and lone bogey securing her a tie for 20th.
The 25-year-old, who won her first major when she took out the 2025 Evian Championship after a playoff, is currently 51st in the standings.
Karis Davidson is two shots behind and sits tied 42nd. The world No.69 is 57th in the CME race and was travelling well until back-to-back bogeys on her final two holes.
Cassie Porter also made 68 after four birdies and two bogeys, but the Sydneysider is looking over her back too as she sits 52nd in the overall race.
But it was a nightmare start for Robyn Choi who, after a successful Asian swing, dropped four spots to be currently 65th in the race.
Choi shot a three-over 74 and is languishing close to bottom of the ANNIKA field after making five bogeys and a pair of birdies.
The day’s honours went to South Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi, who rattled off four birdies in a row on the back nine and added another at No.18 to share the first-round lead with Japan’s Minami Katsu.
Choi and Katsu are one stroke ahead of Lindy Duncan, who had a hole-in-one at the par-3 third, while alone in fourth is world No.1 Nelly Korda at seven-under 63.
Choi is No.7 in the Race to the CME Globe points list and Katsu entered the week No.28. Both are assured of making next week’s Tour Championship, but they are after something else: their first win on the LPGA Tour.
The CME Globe stakes are more immediate for Duncan, who’s 74th in the standings and projected to shoot up to No.46 if current results hold.
