Ryu and Ariya overpower significant setbacks to begin impressively in Utah
In Utah's First LPGA Event Since 1964, Ryu Takes the Lead
South Korea's Haeran Ryu dominated the opening round of the LPGA Black Desert Championship, carding a blistering 9-under 63. She narrowly tops Thailand's Ariya Jutanugarn and Taiwan's Wei-Ling Hsu, both with scores of 8-under 64[1][3].
Ryu's impressive round saw her hit 13 of 14 fairways and 17 of 18 greens in regulation, requiring only 27 putts. Her strong start in Ivins, Utah, includes birdies at the 10th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th, and four more coming in.
Last week, Ryu shared the 54-hole lead at the Chevron Championship but suffered a final-round 76, missing the playoff by two strokes[2]. This week, her mindset remains the same, focusing on shot accuracy, as she navigates a course that, while not narrow, feels tight due to an abundance of rocks[4].
Ariya, with eight birdies and no bogeys, appreciates the lack of wind for morning starters. The Thai player argued that the course would be challenging if the wind picked up[5]. Even with a one-stroke lead late in the game, she bogeyed on the 72nd hole and fell in the playoff[2].
Hsu, among the few afternoon starters, made serious inroads on the leaderboard, thanks to an eagle and six birdies[5]. A group of six players, led by Carlota Ciganda, are one stroke behind Ryu, with another half dozen on 66[5].
Mao Saigo, who claimed her first major title last week, posted a respectable two-under 70, despite an early meltdown[5].
As of May 3, 2025, these are the standings[1][3]:- Haeran Ryu (South Korea): 9-under 63 (after Round 1).- Ariya Jutanugarn (Thailand): 8-under 64 (after Round 1).- Wei-Ling Hsu (Taiwan): 8-under 64 (after Round 1).
The tournament continues, with the final results likely to change based on subsequent rounds. Be sure to check the official LPGA website or recent news sources for the most up-to-date information[1][3].
© 2025 AFP
- In the same year, Ryu, who won the LPGA Black Desert Championship's opening round with a 9-under 63, had a disappointing finish at the Chevron Championship, losing the playoff by two strokes.
- Ryu's fierce competition in the sports landscape of 2025 includes the likes of Chevron Championship champion Mao Saigo, who currently trails behind her after posting a respectable 70 in the first round.
- As the tournament unfolds, Ryu will have to negotiate the challenging course in Ivins, Utah, whose abundance of rocks makes it feel tight, much like her approach in the Chevron Championship, where she lacked shot accuracy on the final round, leading to a 76.
