ORLANDO, Fla. — Nasa Hataoka from Japan recorded a score of 6-under 66, holding a one-shot advantage over LPGA Player of the Year Jeeno Thitikul, Chanettee Wannasaen, Lottie Woad, and Linn Grant after the opening round of the season’s first Tournament of Champions.
Hataoka completed the back nine at Lake Nona Golf & Country in 4 under, continuing her strong performance from the conclusion of the previous season. She secured her first LPGA victory in nearly three years by winning the Japan Classic in a playoff against Yuna Araki in November.
Thitikul is coming off not only her finest season but also one of the most remarkable in LPGA history.
She triumphed at the Tour Championship in November, marking her third win of the year, and finished second at The Evian Championship and fourth at the Women’s PGA Championship, concluding the season with the lowest scoring average in the tour’s 75-year history.
Thitikul achieved six birdies and one bogey on Thursday, once again ascending the leaderboard in a tournament featuring LPGA winners from the last two seasons. Wannasaen recorded seven birdies during her round of 67, while Grant birdied her final two holes to tie them at 5 under, and Woad reached 6 under before a bogey at the par-4 finishing hole brought her back.
Nelly Korda was accompanied by Amy Yang and Linn Grant, who were another shot behind.
The highlight for Korda, who placed second at the Tournament of Champions last year, occurred on the 406-yard, par-4 seventh. Her approach shot from the center of the fairway bounced onto the green, rolled toward the hole, and hit the flagstick, leaving her with a tap-in birdie. Korda ultimately reached 6 under before a couple of late bogeys resulted in a round of 68.
Defending champion A Lim Kim was part of a group at 3 under that included Lydia Ko and Ingrid Lindblad.
