Cara Gorlei opened with a level-par 72 on Friday in the first round of the Ladies European Tour’s Aramco Team Series-Korea at the New Korea Country Club on Goyang-si in South Korea.
Gorlei’s two birdies and two bogeys put her in a share of ninth place, just four strokes off the lead in the 54-hole tournament. In the lead was local major champion Hyo-Joo Kim, who had an eagle, three birdies and a bogey in her four-under-par 68. Kim led by one from Colombia’s Mariajo Uribi and Pranavi Urs of India.
Casandra Alexander was a shot back on one-over-par, fresh from her strong performance in the Sunshine Tour’s season-opening Tournament of Champions. Alexander was in a share of 15th after four birdies, three bogeys and a double-bogey.
Behind Alexander, Nicole Garcia opened with a two-over-par 74 for a share of 26th and rookie Danielle du Toit battled to an 11-over 83 and was in 106th.
Teeing up as invitee in her Aramco Team Series debut, Kim got off to a flyer, birdieing her first hole on the short par-four 10th. She would drop a shot on the par-three 15th before making a birdie before the turn at the par-five17th.
After seven straight pars, Kim finished hot eagling the par-five eighth thanks to a lovely hole out from 60 yards. She would follow this up with a birdie on the ninth for the lead.
“I wish they had played the music a bit louder!” Kim joked after playing her first round in the unique event. “But it was quite enjoyable. Also, it was the first time playing with four people in a match. I’m working on the things that I wanted to improve this year and I feel like it’s getting better and better.”
