Kang Soo-yon, “It’s My Turn.”

“All the Korean players in the US LPGA tours are winners.”

On May 7, Kingsmill Golf Course (par 71) in Williamsburg, Virginia launched the Michelob Ultra Open with $2.2 million in prize money. In the opening day, Kang Soo-yun of Astra led with 65 strokes (six under par), and shot seven birdies and one bogey.

Kang Soo-yun finally had her chance to finish in the top ten. She has participated in six major games this season, but never made it to the top ten. In prize rankings, she currently is in 56th place with $35,726. The Michelob Ultra Open holds $330,000 for the first place winner, with the fifth place winner to be prized with $90,000.

Kang Soo-yun stepped into the international scene after winning the top prize award as well as winning the most games in Korean Women’s Golf in 2001. She first golfed in the US LPGA as a qualified member last year. Her best result was at the Dake Fuji Classic, winning the semifinals.

In the Michelob Ultra Open, Kang showed great concentration in the game by having five of the seven total birdies of the day made by anyone within three meters of the hole.

She started on the 10th hole and missed 50-centimeter birdies on the par 4 11th hole and the 13th hole (par 3). She recovered on the 15th hole (par 5), earning her second birdie.

She was smooth in the last half of her game. From the 3rd hole she made three birdies in a row, and continued her surge by adding more birdies at the 7th and the 9th hole. She can now face the second round with confidence. “I sort of got the sense of the game after a couple of holes. My iron shot, especially, was executed the way I wanted it to be,” said Kang.

Kim Cho-rong, 20, also fared well, finishing the first day 3 under par with 68 strokes. Han Hee-won of Fila Korea, Kim Mi-hyun of KTF, and Golf Empress Anika Sorenstam are all tied for 11th place at 2 under par and 69 strokes.

Pak Se-ri holds 22nd place along with Park Hui-jung of CJ with 1 under par (70 strokes), a solid launch on day one. However, Park Ji-eun of Nike Gold, Ahn Si-hyun of Kolon Elord, and Golf Whiz Kid Michel Wie, 14, all had a rather discouraging start to the tournament and all are tied for 46th place with 1 over par and 72 strokes.

Young-Sik Ahn ysahn@donga.com