Lotte Championship 2021 R1
April 14-17
Kapolei Golf Club, Oahu, Hawaii
$2,000,000
Round 2, Round 3, Round 4

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Lotte Championship 2021 R1

Brittany Altomare started on the back nine and made the turn 2-under par after two birdies and a bogey. She turned to her caddie Charlie Ryan for guidance on her putts on the first and second holes, and suddenly, the momentum kicked in. By the time she finished the day, she recorded a string of seven-consecutive birdies and carded an 8-under 64, tying Yuka Saso for the first-round lead.

Lotte Championship 2021 R1

“I try to stay one shot at a time, but towards the end I kind of realized (the streak), and then I chipped in on 7 and just started laughing. I'm just like, ‘just one of those days', which was fun. Hasn't happened in a while, so I was excited,” said Altomare, whose highest finish this season is T23 at the LPGA Drive On Championship at Golden Ocala.

This is the first time she can remember carding seven consecutive birdies, “even in practice,” said the 30-year-old. Her 64 ties her career-best 18 holes, last recorded in the second round at the 2016 Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, where she finished T13. The streak ties the Tour's second-best number for consecutive birdies, last done by Isi Gabsa at the 2019 Portland Classic. Jeongeun Lee and Nicole Broch Larsen are the last two players to record seven-straight birdies in the same round, both achieving the feat at the 2019 Thornberry Creek LPGA Classic.

Lotte Championship 2021 R1

“This week like I just really like the greens here. They're smooth. I think when you putt where you want to, like it's going to go there. Like there is no -- it's not bumping around or anything,” said Altomare. “I think if you're putting well you can make a lot of putts out here.”

Altomare hopes to continue building on her successful first round by honing in on what's been working for her. Just stay steady and consistent. My putter obviously feels really good. My coach and I have been working a lot on some things in my driver, and I'm finally starting to feel comfortable with it,” said Altomare. “So I think if I can just stay consistent off the tee and just kind of keep working on what we been working on.”

Lotte Championship 2021 R1

19-year old Saso, playing on a sponsor's exemption, birdied five of her last six holes. She turned pro last November after earning her card on the Japan LPGA Tour and is currently third on the money list.

"It's like Philippines but colder than Philippines and windier than Philippines" — lucky.

Lotte Championship 2021 R1

"I made some good putts, had good up and downs, my driving was very consistent today," said Saso. "I think, yeah, that made me lucky."

Nelly Korda shot a 65 to tie with So Yeon Ryu and Ally Ewing for third place.

Lotte Championship 2021 R1