Hye-Jin Choi shoots 7-under 64 to take lead at Dana Open

SYLVANIA, Ohio -- Hye-Jin Choi birdied her final two holes late Thursday afternoon for a 7-under 64 and a one-stroke lead in the Dana Open for Children.

Choi had seven birdies in the bogey-free round at Highland Meadows, finishing with the birdies on the par-3 eighth and par-4 ninth. She putted well after struggling a day earlier in the pro-am round.

"I hit it too hard yesterday, so I try more stroke soft and more like tempo," said Choi, the 24-year-old South Korean player who is winless on the LPGA Tour. "Focusing more tempo."

She had four straight birdies -- on the par-5 17th and 18th, par-4 first and par-3 second -- and also birdied the par-4 fifth.

"I like it here, but this course, I feel not really easy," Choi said.

Xiyu Lin of China, the highest-ranked player in the field at No. 15, was tied for second with Aditi Ashok of India. They played in the same afternoon group with defending champion Linn Grant , also opening on No. 10.

Lin holed out twice from bunkers.

"Almost like two impossible shots to hole out," she said. "That's a bit of luck."

Lin and Ashok are also winless on the LPGA Tour.

"I really like the golf course," Ashok said. "It's something similar to what I grew up on, tree-lined and smaller greens. That's kind of how it was when I grew up back in India."

Chanettee Wannasaen was another stroke back at 66 with fellow Thai player Natthakritta Vongtaveelap and South Africa's Paula Reto . Wannasaen played alongside Choi.

Grant and Stacy Lewis were at 67. The 39-year-old Lewis won the last of her 13 LPGA Tour titles in 2020.

"Really excited." Lewis said. "It's probably most number of birdies I made in a round in a very long time. It's nice to see a little bit of progress. And putted it really nicely."