On Thursday, it was Elizabeth Szokol’s turn at the HSBC Women’s World Championship.
With a blistering 8 under 64 at Tanjong Course at Sentosa Golf Club, Singapore, Szokol set the pace for the first round. Szokol started on the back nine and made her only bogey on No. Szokol made her lone bogey of the day on No. 10, but she got back on track with birdies at Nos. 14, 16, and 18. With another birdie on No. 1, the Northwestern and Virginia native kept the momentum going. Before closing out her round, she shot a birdie on No. 1. Szokol played this week with a medical exemption because she had a herniated disc in the back. She eagled her par-5 5th hole, and then made birdies on Nos. To sign for her lowest professional score, she scored 6, 8 and 9.
After the round, she stated, “Yeah. After that bogey I just kinda focused on making birdies, made a few longer putsts, then got more comfortable and started hitting good iron shots in, and had some closer look.” It was a great day.
Yuka Saso is just three shots behind after a 5-under 67 on Wednesday. She was the winner of U.S Women’s Open 2021. Five of the six players who are T-3 at 4 Under are major champions: Nelly Korda (Ariya Jutanugarn), Patty Tavatanakit (6, Jeongeun Lee6 & Hyo Joo Kim). World No. World No. 1 Lydia Ko is sitting at T-14 at 2 Under, while Jin Young Ko is the defending champion at T-36 at even Par.
