Haenam:World No. 3 Ryu Hae-ran began her campaign at the BMW Ladies Championship with a strong performance on Thursday, positioning herself in early contention at the LPGA Tour event held at Pine Beach Golf Links in Haenam, South Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Ryu shot a bogey-free round of five-under 67, putting her in a tie for third place alongside three other players. She trails the co-leaders, Karis Davidson of Australia and Yuri Yoshida of Japan, by just one stroke. Ryu's round included three birdies on the front nine and two on the back nine of the par-72 course, which played 6,549 yards in the first round.

Ryu, who has already won two majors earlier this season, is the highest-ranked player participating in the tournament this week. She expressed excitement over her birdies at the 15th and 16th holes, which she felt were pivotal. Ryu is also competing for the Vare Trophy, awarded to the player with the lowest scoring average each season, where she currently ranks second.

Her main rival for the trophy, Miyu Yamashita of Japan, is not playing this week. Meanwhile, Nelly Korda, the current leader in scoring average, is not participating in the Asian swing, affecting her eligibility for the trophy.

Ryu noted that while she is eager to win the Vare Trophy, she is focusing on playing her game. She made adjustments on Wednesday to adapt to the windy conditions expected in Haenam over the weekend.

Other notable performances included Kim Hyo-joo, who is tied for eighth, and defending champion Kim Sei-young, who shot an even-par 72. The field features 15 players from the Korea LPGA Tour, with Kim Min-sol tying for 18th and Seo Kyo-rim carding a 72.