Hyo Joo Kim of Korea and Xiyu “Janet” Lin of China carded 4–under 68 in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday, July 6, at Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links.
Lin led Nasa Hataoka of Japan, Hae Ran Ryu of South Korea and 21-year-old Irish amateur Aine Donegan, who shot 3–under 69 in the morning groups.
Two more amateurs—Italy’s Benedetta Moresco, 21, and Amari Avery, 19—were part of a tie for ninth at 2–under 70.
Allison Corpuz and Bailey Tardy are the top Americans tied for third at 3 under.
Amateur Áine Donegan of the Republic (T2) of Ireland waits with her caddie Gary Madden before playing a shot on the ninth hole during the first round of the 78th U.S. Women’s Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, Calif., on July 6, 2023. (Harry How/Getty Images)
Lin stayed in great form after finishing tied for third at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago. She started on the back nine and made her first two birdies at the par-4 15th and par-5 18th holes, the latter on a 30 1/2-foot putt. She added birdies at Nos. 2, 4 and 6 to pass Donegan, and her only bogey came at her closing hole, No. 9….