Zhang Weiwei Chips in Twice for 66 to Share Blue Bay LPGA Lead

Zhang Weiwei recorded an eagle and birdie on her final two holes to join Mary Liu and Youmin Hwang at 6-under par during the opening round in Hainan.

Zhang Weiwei signed for a 6-under-par 66 on Thursday to establish a three-way tie for the lead at the Blue Bay LPGA. Navigating the Jian Lake Blue Bay course on Hainan Island, Zhang concluded her first round with a spectacular sequence consisting of an eagle followed by a birdie. This performance placed her level with compatriot Mary Liu and South Korean competitor Youmin Hwang, who also posted 66s during a day defined by persistent coastal winds. Zhang represents one of 20 players from the China Golf Association competing in this week’s 108-player field.

The defining moment of the afternoon occurred at the par-5 17th hole, where officials moved the tee boxes forward to encourage aggressive play. Zhang reached the green’s perimeter in two shots before executing a chip-in for eagle. Despite admitting the contact was slightly heavy, she watched the ball strike her intended landing spot and roll directly into the cup. She maintained this precision on the 18th hole, where she chipped in again from 30 feet off the putting surface to secure her share of the top spot.

Mary Liu climbed into the lead by recording four birdies over her final six holes. Her late surge mirrored the scoring run of Youmin Hwang, who ignited her round with five birdies during a six-hole stretch surrounding the turn. These three leaders hold a narrow one-stroke advantage over American Auston Kim, who opened the tournament with a 5-under 67. Kim’s scorecard was the most volatile of the day, featuring nine birdies offset by four bogeys.

Auston Kim arrived in China following a tie for third place at the HSBC Women’s World Championship in Singapore. Her Thursday round of 67 included two three-putts and several errant drives that prevented her from matching the 6-under total. Despite these errors, Kim remains the highest-placed American in the standings. She noted that while her ball-striking felt improved compared to the previous week, the greens at Jian Lake proved difficult to navigate under the gusty conditions.

Ruoning Yin, the world’s 10th-ranked player and a former major champion, is the highest-ranked athlete in the field this week. She opened her campaign with a 4-under 68, placing her two shots off the pace. Yin is the sole representative of the world’s top 10 present in Hainan, as many elite players opted to skip this final leg of the LPGA’s spring Asian swing. World No. 1 Nelly Korda is among the notable absences, having chosen to bypass all three events in Thailand, Singapore, and China.

The Blue Bay LPGA marks the conclusion of the tour’s early-season journey through Asia. While the previous stop at Sentosa Golf Club featured 19 of the world’s top 20 players, the Hainan Island event presents a different competitive landscape. The field is heavily populated by local Chinese talent and players looking to capitalize on the absence of the tour's most dominant figures. The par-72 layout at Jian Lake Blue Bay serves as a rigorous test, particularly when the wind intensifies off the South China Sea.

Statistical analysis of the opening round shows that the par-5s offered the primary scoring opportunities. Zhang’s eagle at the 17th was one of several under-par scores on that hole following the decision to shorten the yardage. Conversely, the par-4s played significantly over par as players struggled with club selection in the shifting breezes. The co-leaders managed to navigate these challenges by totaling 18 birdies and one eagle between them, providing a cushion over the 14 players who finished within three shots of the lead.

Defending champion Gaby Lopez and other veteran stars are chasing the young trio at the top. The scoring average for the first round hovered near even par, illustrating the difficulty of the coastal terrain. Zhang’s ability to scramble from off the green proved to be the statistical outlier of the day, as she gained significant strokes on the field through her short-game proficiency. Her back-to-back chip-ins accounted for three under-par strokes in the span of just two holes.

As the tournament progresses into the second round, the focus remains on whether the local contingent can maintain their momentum. With 20 Chinese players in the draw, the leaderboard is heavily represented by domestic talent familiar with the regional climate. Mary Liu’s bogey-free stretch on the back nine suggests that the course can be tamed if players avoid the thick vegetation lining the fairways. The battle for the $2.2 million purse will intensify as the cut line approaches on Friday.

Looking ahead to Friday’s forecast, winds are expected to remain a factor, potentially favoring the lower ball flights of the international contingent. Youmin Hwang’s mid-round birdie streak demonstrated that aggressive iron play can yield results if the wind dies down momentarily. For now, the story remains the three-way deadlock at 6-under par and the remarkable finishing kick of Zhang Weiwei, whose short-game heroics defined the opening 18 holes of the 2024 Blue Bay LPGA.