Choi Hye-jin tied for second at LPGA Portland Classic

Golfer Choi Hye-jin has positioned herself for a strong performance at the LPGA Portland Classic, finishing the first round in a tie for second place. She carded a 6-under-par 66, with seven birdies and one bogey, placing her just one stroke behind the solo leader, Mariel Galdiano of the United States.

This tournament marks Choi's pursuit of her first LPGA Tour victory since her debut in 2022. She has demonstrated consistent performance this season, securing four top-10 finishes across 17 events, with her best result being a runner-up finish at the Dow Championship, a team event.

Choi started her round with a birdie on the 10th hole and went on a remarkable streak of four consecutive birdies from the 13th to the 16th holes. Despite a bogey on the 18th, she recovered with birdies on the 1st and 6th holes to conclude her round positively.

Meanwhile, world No. 3 Yoo Hae-ran is also in contention, tied for ninth place after a bogey-free round of 5-under-par 67. With Nelly Korda, who leads in CME Globe Race points and Player of the Year points, not participating in this event, Yoo has a significant opportunity to close the gap in the standings. Last year's champion, Akie Iwai of Japan, struggled in the first round, finishing in a tie for 96th place.