Choi, Korda share LPGA lead in China

BEIJING, Oct. 3 (UPI) -- Choi Na-yeon and Jessica Korda each shot 9-under-par 64 Thursday and share the lead after the first round of the inaugural Reignwood LPGA Classic in China.

Choi closed her first round with four consecutive birdies and Korda had five birdies in the first eight holes en route to a four-stroke lead. Neither had a bogey on the day.

Stacey Lewis, Park Hee-young and Seo Hee-Kyung each turned in 5-under 68s to tie for third while eight players, including world No. 1 Inbee Park, are at 4-under 69.

Korda opened Thursday's play with a birdie and added two more at Nos. 3 and 4. Birdies at 6 and 8 allowed her to make the turn at 5-under. She had back-to-back birdies twice -- at Nos. 12-13 and then at 16-17 -- on the second nine for her 64.

Choi was 4-under on her first nine, with birdies at the second and third holes and again going back-to-back at Nos. 8 and 9. She pushed to 5-under with a birdie at 11 and jumped up the leaderboard by closing with birdies over 15-18.

Lewis and Park, who had birdies in the final three holes, were both bogey-free in the first round. Seo was just 1-under through 10 holes after three bogeys, two birdies and an eagle at the par-5 ninth. She, like Choi, closed the round with four straight birdies.

The tournament, officially called the Reignwood Pine Valley LPGA Classic, is the first of a series of LPGA events in Asia.