Jennifer Kupcho, four years removed from her lone major title, holds a one-shot lead after the first round of the U.S. Women’s Open on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Kupcho shot a 5-under-par 66 at Riviera Country Club, leaving her just ahead of South Korea’s Sei Young Kim.
Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and South Koreans Ina Yoon, Hyunjo Yoo and Minji Kang are tied for third at 3 under.
Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit, South Korea’s Jiyai Shin, China’s Ruoning Yin, Japan’s Nasa Hataoka and Australians Minjee Lee and Karis Davidson share eighth place at 2 under.
Kupcho didn’t enter the event in top form. She missed the cut last week at the ShopRite LPGA, and she has just one top-10 finish, a tie for eighth, in 11 tournaments this year.
However, she opened her Thursday round with three consecutive birdies, then mixed in four more birdies and two bogeys the rest of the way.
“Honestly, I kind of just felt at home,” Kupcho said. “I feel like I really like the golf course. It kind of just flies by. I don’t know, I feel like I just really, really like the golf course.
“It’s kind of a ball-striker’s paradise, just hit it down the fairway, hit it on the green, and make the putts.”
Asked about sitting atop the leaderboard at her national open, Kupcho said, “To be out here competing, be at the top is pretty cool. Obviously something I’ve never been able to say even after one round. So pretty cool to be able to say that.”
Kupcho recorded her only major championship at the 2022 Chevron Championship.
Kim also owns one major crown, the 2020 Women’s PGA Championship. She got off to a hot start on Thursday, too, beginning with back-to-back birdies to start the back nine. She made her lone bogey at the par-3 fourth hole, and she closed birdie-birdie-birdie-par.
“The course is not easy. Like every hole is putting me to the test,” Kim said. “Yeah, I played it quite solid today, so I’m very happy with that. But we have three more days, and I look forward to the rest of the (tournament).”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, who has three wins and three runner-up finishes in seven events this year, is tied for 57th at 2 over par. Also at 2 over par is world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand.
