Jin Young Ko - Photo: DR

Ko, who won the 2017 KEB HanaBank LPGA Championship, also tied for 15th at the US Women's Open a year ago. This week marks her debut at the 2018 LPGA Tour as a member.

She didn't bogey on 10 holes and was 4 under the par before making five birdies and two bogeys on the final seven holes. She completed a birdie in her last three holes to finish 7 under par.

"My goal was to do a lap without a bogey ... I did two bogeys, but it's not bad"said Ko, who admitted she felt like a rookie despite her years on the Korean LPGA Tour and the victories to her name. “I had a good lap today and I hit some good shots on the back nine… on the front nine too. Not bad for a first round. "

Fellow South Korean Jiyai Shin, who is alone in second after a clear 67 card, is on his heels. Shin is using a member of the Kooyonga Golf Course this week as his caddy, someone she just met on Monday.

Clearly, things have worked so far.

"Today I played pretty well, I missed only one fairway and maybe missed a green so my shots were great and my putt was good too", did she say. “I really enjoyed today… a ride without a bogey. "

Shin won this event in 2013, his last victory on the LPGA tour. Shin won three times in 2008 and 2009, and became the first Asian golfer to climb No. 1 in the Rolex Rankings (2010).

There is a tie at 10, including Lydia Ko (who won the event in 2015 and finished second in 2016), American Nelly Korda (looking for her first victory after a good season), theA Spanish LPGA rookie Luna Soborn Glames, and Mo Martin, who has gone to a short putt and is looking for his first win since 2014.

« I think all parts of my game reach a supremely high level »said Martin. “I think there's still a little bit of adjustment between the long putt and the short putt, but I think I'm on a really good track now and my hitting is still at a really high level. Obviously, I still love the game, so a lot of pieces are there right now. "

Icher is not far

Karine Icher started the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open well with a first card of 70 (-2). The French number one is 21st, just two points from the provisional podium. La Castelroussine is unfortunately the only French under par.

The two Célines, Herbin and Boutier, sign cards of 73 (+1) to find themselves on the verge of tomorrow's cut.

Justine Dreher, meanwhile, ends this first lap in 75th place, making a 74 card a bit sad (two bogeys and not a single birdie).

Perrine Delacour ,; part of the 10th hole, never found the rhythm and ended with a card of 75.