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HOUSTON — The first major of the 2026 LPGA season is underway at Memorial Park Golf Course, and South Korean players have made their presence felt early. Lee So-mi opened with a five-under 67 to sit tied for second, while Yoon Ina surged into a tie for third after the second round. Nelly Korda of the United States holds the solo lead at seven-under.

The Chevron Championship, which runs Thursday through Sunday at the par-72 course in Houston, features a field of 18 South Korean players, led by world No. 3 Kim Hyo-joo. The winner will take home US$1.2 million.

Round One: Lee So-mi's Strong Start

According to Yonhap, Lee So-mi, who earned her maiden LPGA title last year at the Dow Championship, carded six birdies against a single bogey on the par-3 ninth. She missed only one fairway and hit 16 of 18 greens in regulation.

"Recently, I've been having problems with my shots. I think the problem was I was trying to hit it so perfectly," Lee said, as quoted by Yonhap. "One part I improved was my mental game, and also before the round, I practiced my putting more than usual. I think that helped a lot definitely."

Lee started on the back nine and birdied her first hole, the par-4 18th. "The first birdie going in gave me a lot of confidence," she added.

Three other South Koreans — amateur Yang Yun-seo, sophomore Yoon Ina, and Im Jin-hee — were tied for eighth after the first round at three-under, according to Yonhap.

Round Two: Yoon Ina Moves Up

In the second round, Yoon Ina fired a four-under 68 to climb into a tie for third at seven-under 137. She trails only leader Nelly Korda and Thailand's Patty Tavatanakit, per Yonhap.

Yoon opened with a birdie and a bogey, then added back-to-back birdies on the seventh and eighth. On the back nine, she recorded three more birdies without a bogey, including a closing birdie at the 18th after sticking her approach within one meter.

"I've been trying to focus more on the process than the results since last week," Yoon said, as reported by Yonhap. "It helps me stay calm."

Yang Yun-seo posted a one-under 71 to sit tied for 11th at four-under. Lee So-mi slipped to a tie for 16th after a two-over 74, alongside Im Jin-hee and Hwang You-min.

Notably, former champion Ko Jin-young, Chun In-gee, and Hong Jung-min all missed the cut, as did world No. 1 Atthaya Thitikul of Thailand, according to Yonhap.

Final Result: Yoon Ina's Top-10 Finish

Yoon Ina finished the tournament tied for fourth at 12-under 276, her best result at a major, according to Yonhap. She was six strokes behind champion Nelly Korda, who claimed her third major title.

Yoon's final round included four birdies on the front nine, but she dropped three consecutive shots starting at the par-3 11th. She recovered with birdies at the 14th and 15th and closed with another at the 18th.

"I feel great. I did a pretty good job to focus on my process today," Yoon said, as quoted by Yonhap. "Pretty proud of myself. Just try to control what I can control, and I think that works great."

Kim Hyo-joo was the second-best South Korean, finishing alone in sixth at seven-under 281. After rounds of 70 and 74, she shot 68-69 on the weekend, including three birdies, an eagle, and two bogeys in the final round.

Kim has two LPGA wins this season, making her one of three multiple champions in 2026, alongside Korda and Australia's Hannah Green. According to Yonhap, Kim leads the Player of the Year points standings with 69, three ahead of Korda.

South Korean Major Drought Context

South Korean players won three of the four majors in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, when the Evian Championship was canceled. Since then, however, they have not produced a major champion in 2021, 2023, or 2025, and had one winner each in 2022 and 2024, as reported by Yonhap.

Amy Yang is the most recent South Korean major champion, having won the 2024 KPMG Women's PGA Championship.

South Korea has enjoyed a strong season overall in 2026. Lee Mi-hyang and Kim Hyo-joo won three straight tournaments in March, with Kim winning consecutive weeks. At the JM Eagle LA Championship, Kim Sei-young and Im Jin-hee both fell short in a playoff against Hannah Green, according to Yonhap.

Kim Hyo-joo was forced to withdraw from the LA Championship before the second round due to a neck injury, but she rebounded at the Chevron.

Looking Ahead

The Chevron Championship marks the first of five majors on the 2026 LPGA schedule. As the season progresses, South Korean players will look to end their recent major drought, with Yoon Ina's breakout performance providing a promising sign.