Ryu sets the pace at Asia Pacific Cup

Ryu sets the pace at Asia Pacific Cup

Ryu So-Yeon, left, and Lee Bo-Mee during the first round. Simone Asia Pacific Cup Simone Asia Pacific Cup
Ryu So-Yeon, left, and Lee Bo-Mee during the first round. Simone Asia Pacific Cup Simone Asia Pacific Cup

Jakarta: South Korea's seasoned campaigner Ryu So-Yeon fired a seven-under-par 65 to seize a one-shot lead after the opening round of the inaugural Simone Asia Pacific Cup in Indonesia yesterday.

The 32-year-old reeled off seven birdies in a flawless round at the Pondok Indah Golf Course in Jakarta.

World No.4 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, the highest-ranked player among the 44 competitors in the field, left it late with a glorious birdie-eagle finish for a bogey-free 66 to join Philippines' Princess Mary Superal in second spot.

Another South Korean Lee Bo-Mee ended the opening day in outright fourth place, two off the pace after trading five birdies against a lone bogey on the par-three fifth.

Thailand's Patcharajutar Kongkraphan, the 2012 Indonesian Ladies Open champion, also enjoyed a solid start by carding a 70 to share fifth with Japan's Kokona Sakurai.

Ryu and Lee's combined individual brilliance, which yielded a blistering 12-under-par total, also inspired Team Korea 2 to a whopping nine-shot lead over Team Japan 2 comprising Sakurai and Maria Shinohara (71) and Team Philippines made up of Princess and Pauline Del Rosario (73).

Ko, meanwhile, had a modest start on the front nine, picking up just a birdie.

But with the help of Indonesian rising star Jonathan Wijono, who is caddying for her this week, the 17-time LPGA Tour winner was able to turn things around on the back nine.

Jonathan had recently finished a creditable tied-34th at the Indonesia Open a fortnight ago.

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