Honolulu – Akie iwai shot an 8-under 64 in mild morning situations at Hoa Kalay Country Club on Wednesday, taking the first round lead in the Lotte Championship on the LPGA Tour.
She performed with her twin sister Chisato.
“It was fun,” Akie said. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow too.”
The 23-year-old Japanese sisters won the championship as tour rookies this year. Chisat broke into Mayacoba, Mexico in May, and Akie won the Portland Classic in August.
On Wednesday, Akie birded three of the first four holes. She then bogeyed in par 3 ninth after making six birdies on nine holes. Chisati opened at 70.
Japanese player Nasa Hataoka had a stroke at the age of 65, with Australia’s Gabriella Raffel and Taiwan’s Payyun Chien.
“We played at 7:30 this morning and the wind didn’t increase,” Raffels said. “I think the defense on this golf course is wind so I can spend tee time tomorrow afternoon, but that can be a little tricky and it can be harder to shoot lower numbers.”
Defending champion South Korea’s Lim Kim had the best round in the afternoon session, making four straight birdies with a back nine at 66.
Nelly Korda opened at 69pm, birding the first three holes, offsetting two bogeys with the remaining two birdies.
“It’s a little round, but overall I’m happy to get it with a 3-under par,” Korda said. “There’s definitely a long way to go to compete.”
Away from seven seasons, she has not won this year and has lost her No. 1 ranking to Jeeno Thitikul. This tour had different winners in all 24 official tournaments this year.
Charlie Hal matched his partner, Korda, at 69. Hal won the Kuroga Queen City Championship in Ohio three weeks ago.
Brooke Henderson, the 2018 and 2019 winner at Ko Olina, shot 70pm.
After the event, the LPGA will head to Asia for the tournament for the fifth consecutive week in Shanghai, Korea, Malaysia and Japan.
