April 15 (Reuters) - South Koreans, led by Kim In-kyung, occupied the top five spots after the opening round at the LOTTE Championship in Hawaii on Wednesday.
Kim shrugged off testing afternoon trade winds to compile eight birdies for a seven-under-par 65 on the Ko Olina course on the west coast of Oahu, near Honolulu.
She has three LPGA victories, most recently in 2010.
Kim led by two strokes over a trio of compatriots including Choi Na-yeon, who took a step towards a possible ninth LPGA victory with a morning 67.
Choi won the opening event of the season for the eighth of her career.