Coming off disappointing finishes at The Chevron Championship last week, Haeran Ryu and Ariya Jutanugarn posted terrific first rounds at the Black Desert Championship in Utah on Thursday.
Haeran Ryu, who was in the lead entering Sunday last week, fired an impressive -9 63 on Thursday, placing her in the solo lead. It was the best round of the season for a player who is wildly consistent.
Ryu was incredible on Thursday, hitting 13/14 fairways, 17/18 greens and only having 27 putts. Ryu is one of the most consistently dominant players on the LPGA Tour and that was abundantly clear in the first round of this event.
Also playing in the early wave was two-time major champion Ariya Jutanugarn. Last week at the Chevron Championship, Jutanugarn choked away the lead with a horrific chip shot on the 18th hole. In the early stages this week, she looks strong.
Ariya made eight birdies with no bogeys, hit 13 fairways and 17 greens. Math dictates she had more puts than Ryu, but it was only by one as she had 28. Jutanugarn is firmly in this event.
Olympic silver medalist Esther Henseleit and Lucy Li are in contention, but for now, Jutanugarn and Ryu are in control in Utah.
