Pace-Setting Shibuno Hungry for More Major Success

Rancho Mirage, California, United States: Hinako Shibuno, the 2019 AIG Women’s Open champion, added a birdie-filled 66 to her opening round of 69 to claim a single-shot lead after 36 holes of The Chevron Championship.

It's the first time Shibuno has led a Major at the half-way stage since the 2020 US Open where she eventually finished fourth.

Shibuno, who missed the cut here in 2021, showed good form in Thailand last month when she finished tied for eighth at the Honda LPGA Thailand. Known as the ‘Smiling Cinderella’ on her home Tour in Japan, and now around the world, Shibuno charmed the world’s media when she won the 2019 Women’s Open on what was her first international foray as a professional.

When she triumphed at Woburn, she introduced the media to her love of snacks and that remained the theme three years later as she told the attending media at Mission Hills her plans for the weekend: “I’m going to do just same thing - I’m going to eat and I’m going to sleep.”

She explained when she first played at Mission Hills she thought it would be a hard course for her to play but now she felt she had found the right approach.

When asked how she’d changed since winning the AIG Women’s Open in 2019, Shibuno said: “My golf game is not a lot different than when I won the British Open, but my personality is not different at all.” Adding with an engaging chuckle: “I eat a lot more snacks.”

Defending champion Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand and Americans Annie Park and Jennifer Kupcho are in a share of second place on eight-under, with Park shooting a 67, the second lowest round of the day behind Shibuno.

Tavatanakit, who finished with two closing birdies to sit only one shot back, said: “This is actually the first time I kind of feel like I know what I’m doing on the putting green. Other than that, I’m really proud with my approach shots. I’ve been working really hard on that with my coach, Grant Waite, and keep improving.”

Park, whose best finish in this championship was a tie for 56th in 2016, shot what is her lowest 36-hole total at a Major.

In contention for the first time in a while, Park spoke candidly about how she had, at times, considered leaving the Tour. “It feels good to be back. For a while I thought about stepping away from the game. Last year I took a two-month break just needing some time to myself.

“Last week was the first time I started to enjoy it again. Just not with golf, but in general – being able to see spectators again and having this new-found passion for golf.”

Kupcho started and finished the day in second place and explained that gum, not patience was the key to her round. Having opened with 15 pars before finally birdieing her 16th hole, she said: “I wouldn’t say I stayed very patient. I definitely got a little angry – I threw in a piece of gum. That kind of tends to keep me more chill, and that certainly helps when I made the turn.”

Four Major winners are among the top five players on the star-studded leaderboard with Koreans Kim Hyo-joo and Park Sei-young in a share of fifth place on seven-under.