A Lim Kim shoots 65 in rainy, breezy conditions to lead LOTTE Championship A Lim Kim carded a bogey-free 7-under 65 at Hoakalei Country Club to take the first-round lead at the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship, with Ina Yoon and Yu Liu one shot back. A Lim Kim shot a 7-under 65 on a rainy and breezy Thursday at Hoakalei Country Club to take the first-round lead in the LPGA Tour's LOTTE Championship. The 2024 tournament winner birdied Nos. 15-17 and closed her bogey-free morning round with a par on the par-5 18th. She said trajectory and putting were key in the difficult conditions. Trajectory for control and putting are really important on this course because it is very windy, Kim said. Today the rain was back and forth, back and forth, so tough conditions.Ina Yoon Ties Lim KimBut it was really good play. The 30-year-old Kim has three LPGA Tour victories, also winning the 2020 U.S. Women's Open and the 2025 Tournament of Champions. In the afternoon, fellow South Korean player Ina Yoon pulled even with Kim at 7 under with a birdie on the par-4 third hole, her 12th of the day, before dropping back with a bogey on the par-4 sixth. She parred the final three holes for a 66.Yu Liu of China also shot 66, closing her late afternoon round with a birdie on the par-3 ninth. Second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul was at 67 with Polly Mack, Michelle Zhang, Auston Kim, Maja Stark and Chanettee Wannasaen. Thitikul said the rain caused two delays during her morning round. Annoying that we had rain, like two waits on rain, she said.Especially we just had one before our last hole. But the good thing is it was not taking that long. Hawaii native Allisen Corpuz shot 68. She is one of 11 players from the Solheim Cup in the field.LOTTE Championship Asia Swing PreviewThe tournament leads to a month of tournaments in Asia, starting with the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Oct. 15-18. Kim's bogey-free round came in the morning wave, and she credited her control of ball trajectory and putting for handling the wind and on-and-off rain. The 2024 champion at this event is seeking her fourth LPGA Tour title. Yoon's charge briefly tied her for the lead before a late bogey dropped her into a share of second with Liu.Liu's closing birdie on the par-3 ninth capped her late afternoon 66. Thitikul, ranked No. 2 in the world, headlines a group at 67 that includes Mack, Zhang, Auston Kim, Stark and Wannasaen. Corpuz, a Hawaii native and Solheim Cup player, posted a 68 in front of local fans. A total of 11 players from the most recent Solheim Cup are competing this week.The LOTTE Championship is the final LPGA Tour event before a month-long swing through Asia that begins with the Buick LPGA Shanghai on Oct. 15-18.