Aditi Ashok opens with solid 6-under 65, lies T-5th at Arkansas Championship

Indian golfer Aditi Ashok got off to a good start, signing a bogey-free six-under 67 to be placed Tied-5th after the first round of the Arkansas Championship.

Aditi, who represented India prod at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, made four birdies on the front nine and two on the back nine without any errors to sit inside top-5 at the $2.3 million prize money event.

A Lim Kim, the 2020 U.S Women’s Open champion, smashed a monster eagle putt on the final hole to share the top position with the Australian golfer Katherine Kirk and Ji Eun-Hee of South Korea.

The trio shot flawless 8-under 63 to grab a one-shot lead over Sarah Burnham of America, who also carded an error-free round at the Pinnacle country club in Arkansas.

Aditi, the lone Indian golfer on the LPGA Tour, has been in decent form this year as she made ten cuts in fifteen games, and her best finish was a tie for 5th at the LPGA Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational in July.

The 23-year-old is seeking her maiden win on the LPGA Tour as her last worldwide title was at Ladies European Tour in the Fatima Bint Mubarak Ladies Open in 2017.

A pack of six golfers, including 2021 Dow Great Lakes Bay Invitational winner Ariya Jutanugarn, were at T-10th position.

Defending champion Austin Ernst posted 3-under 68 to grab a place inside top-30 going into the second round.