Gwangju/Munich – The 2025 BMW Ladies Championship got off to a sensational start at its new venue, Pine Beach Golf Links near Gwangju in southwest South Korea. The opening round delivered drama and excitement, with American golfer Lucy Li (USA) sinking the most valuable hole-in-one of her career on the 13th hole (par 3).
From a distance of 155 yards with a 7-iron, the 23-year-old Li holed out flawlessly, earning herself an all-electric BMW i7 eDrive50. Ranked 97th in the world and playing on the LPGA Tour since 2023, Li is still seeking her first tournament victory. Yet today, she joined the elite ranks of golfers worldwide who have achieved sheer driving pleasure at BMW professional tournaments.
Li’s ace contributed to an impressive opening round of 68 strokes (4 under par), placing her in a tie for 22nd. Leading the 78-player field are two home favorites: Sei Young Kim (62, -10) in first place, closely followed by Hyo Joo Kim (63, -9). With no cut at the BMW Ladies Championship, all players still have three rounds to follow in Li’s footsteps and vie for the two remaining Hole-in-One Awards.
BMW Korea has announced that the next hole-in-one on the 8th hole will be rewarded with a MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, while the 15th hole will offer the all-electric BMW iX.
Li is the fourth player in the tournament’s history to claim a Hole-in-One Award. The inaugural award went to Kristen Gillman in 2019 at LPGA International Busan. Her ace on the 13th hole from 179 yards with a 4-hybrid secured a BMW 740Li XDrive, marking her first professional hole-in-one.
Three years later, the 2022 BMW Ladies Championship witnessed a historic moment at Oak Valley Country Club. In a unique double feat, South Korea’s Na Yeon Choi aced the 12th hole to win a BMW X7 xDrive40i, followed shortly after by Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, who holed the 17th for a BMW 740i. Dubbed ‘Super-Saturday,’ it remains the only instance of two Hole-in-One Awards being claimed on the same day at a BMW professional tournament.
The 2025 BMW Ladies Championship continues this week with the opportunity to make golf history once again, as the world-class field competes for victory, prestige, and the remaining coveted BMW prizes.
