Clifton, N.J. - Sei Young Kim used a bogey-free afternoon to go into the clubhouse at Upper Montclair Country Club at 6-under-par to stake herself a one stroke lead over Hae Ran Ryu after day one of the Cognizant Founders Cup in Clifton, New Jersey.
Kim was 2-under after the front nine, scoring birdies on holes three and six. However, the back nine proved to be the difference maker in day one for Kim as she recorded four straight birdies on holes 12, 13, 14, and 15.
"This course is (one of my) favorite courses," Kim said. "This course has kind of a lot of trees on both sides, and keeping (the ball in) the fairway, it's really important this week. So, yeah, we need a good strategy and a good hit.
"Yeah, greens are really pure," Kim added. "Yeah, I like the New York golf course, so it's good. It's good. I mean, same as where I practice in Dallas."
While she didn't have the same bogey-free day that Kim had, Ryu was able to card eight birdies, and go on the same hole 12 through 15 run that Kim used, to overcome three bogies and finish her day in second place at 5-under-par.
"On the first round I was a little bit worried when I started because (the) fairway is really narrow here, but I think I changed my mind, used the rough as comfort as possible, so after that my score got better," Ryu said.
"On 12 I got a birdie, and after that I make here four in a row birdies, Ryu added. "Before I was a little bit struggle, but then I got a birdie on the 12th and then I'm making my good mood."
To add to the congestion at the top of the leaderboard, nine golfers are currently tied for third at 4-under-par. Golfers in this group include defending champion Minjee Lee, two-time Founders Cup champion, and current world number three, Jin Young Ko, world number five, Atthaya Thitikul, and Hye-Jin Choi, who carded eagles on holes 10 and 12.
Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings Nos. 1 and 2, Nelly Korda and Lydia Ko are currently tied for 45th with an even par after one day of play.
New Jersey's Karen Chung finished the day at +4 while her fellow Garden State golfer Katie Lu finished day one at +8.
Golfers will tee off from Upper Montclair Country Club on Friday starting at 7:15 a.m. Action from day will, again, air live on NBC GOLF Channel from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the it will also be streamed on Peacock and the NBC Sports App from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
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