Staff WriterPerrine Delacour of France and Germany’s Patricia Isabel Schmidt find themselves tied atop the leaderboard after carding composed three-under-par 69s to kick off the Aramco Korea Championship at New Korea Country Club.
Despite relentless drizzle and gusty winds, the Aramco Korea Championship’s new PIF Global Series format did little to dampen spirits as these two stars set the tone for a compelling week.
Delacour’s Calm Nerve in Team Captain’s Chair
Delacour, fresh off her Investec SA Women’s Open victory in April, mixed five birdies with two bogeys en route to her 69, launching her bid for a second win of the season.
As team captain, the 31-year-old led the Team Delacour quartet to a sparkling 13-under total—one shot clear of Team Kouskova—on the heels of solid performances by Germany’s Polly Mack (72), England’s Eleanor Givens (73), and Morocco’s Maha Haddioui (78).
“I am just here to have fun as a team and if I perform individually then it’s great! I have friends with me from the Tour in my team which is really nice,” Delacour said, beaming despite a few soggy moments.
“It definitely feels good and I think the fact that we’re playing as a team is definitely helping me a lot – being able to rely on your partners when you hit a bad shot.
Especially given the rain and all the [weather] troubles we’ve had, I’m pretty happy about it.
“Playing as a team for me is so much fun. Playing with [my close friend] Maha [Haddioui], it’s so much fun.
No matter what, I’m enjoying it. I’m learning from everyone, even as the captain.”
Schmidt’s Steady Hand Under Pressure
Schmidt, who lifted the Belgian Ladies Open trophy in 2023, matched Delacour’s 69 to stake her claim.
A newcomer on the bag—Smilla Soenderby’s boyfriend, Mikolaj Kniaginin—proved a calming influence through the downpour.
“My caddie is new for this week, Smilla [Soenderby]’s boyfriend [Mikolaj Kniaginin],” she explained with a chuckle. “He’s a really good chatting partner which is important.
He does a good job. He kept everything dry and it rained from the range up until the final green. I didn’t feel too stressed at all today. He helped keep me calm.
“I birdied the final hole which gives me a lot of confidence heading into tomorrow. I’ll just stick to same gameplan, nothing special. Hit fairways and greens and try to make lots of easy pars.”
Local Hero Kim and Chasers Lurk Two Back
Reigning champion Hyo Joo Kim, alongside South Africa’s Lee-Anne Pace and Ecuador’s Daniela Darquea, sits two under as the chase for the Aramco Korea Championship crown begins in earnest. Kim drew huge galleries despite the wet conditions, feeding off their energy throughout her round.
“There were some points where I could have done better, but overall I was satisfied.
My performance got better throughout the round. I told myself on the back nine I couldn’t go over par. I know I can do better tomorrow,” she admitted.
“I feel confident and it’s a lot of fun. I have a lot of fans rooting for me. I just want to live up to expectations, but I feel confident about defending my title.
“It’s been raining, and the weather has not been so good, but I have my fans rooting for me. It’s a great help and it spurs me on.”
Format Spotlight: Team Meets Individual
The Aramco Korea Championship blends a classic individual stroke play with an inventive team twist: 26 foursomes, with the best two scores on each hole counting toward a team total.
It’s a format designed to reward camaraderie and strategic depth, and after day one it’s clear that teamwork may prove the decisive factor.
What to Watch Tomorrow
- Delacour’s Pursuit: Can she translate team success into individual glory?
- Schmidt’s Momentum: Will her final-hole birdie kickstart a back-to-back win streak?
- Kim’s Title Defence: Does home-crowd support propel her past the early chasers?
Round two tees off Friday, 9 May, and with rain expected to clear, the New Korea Country Club promises more drama as the contenders duel for Aramco Korea Championship glory.
For tickets and full event details, visit aramco-korea.tixr.com.
