+++ American golfer Lucy Li secures one of three Hole-in-One Vehicles during the first round of the BMW Ladies Championship +++ Li achieves the most valuable hole-in-one of her career +++ Fourth Hole-in-One Award in the tournament’s history +++ Two more chances for the world-class field: BMW iX and MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4 still up for grabs +++
Gwangju/Munich . The 2025 BMW Ladies Championship got off to a perfect start at its new venue, Pine Beach Golf Links near Gwangju in southwest South Korea. During the first round, Lucy Li (USA) sunk a hole-in-one on the 13th hole (par 3). For her spectacular shot from a distance of 155 yards with a 7-iron, the American golfer was rewarded with an all-electric BMW i7 eDrive50. The 23-year-old, currently ranked 97th in the world, has been playing on the LPGA Tour since 2023 but has yet to secure a tournament victory. With today’s hole-in-one, Li joins the illustrious group of players who have earned themselves sheer driving pleasure at BMW professional tournaments around the globe.
The hole-in-one helped Li achieve an opening round of 68 strokes (4 under par), placing her in a tie for 22nd. Leading the 78-player field at their home event are two South Korean golfers: Sei Young Kim (62, -10) is in first place, followed by Hyo Joo Kim (63, -9). Since there is no cut at the BMW Ladies Championship, all players still have three rounds to follow in Li’s footsteps and claim one of the two remaining Hole-in-One Awards at the only LPGA Tour stop in South Korea. Tournament organiser BMW Korea will reward the first hole-in-one on the 8th hole with a MINI John Cooper Works Countryman ALL4, while the all-electric premium SAV BMW iX awaits a new owner on the 15th hole.
Li is the fourth player to earn a Hole-in-One Award in the history of the BMW Ladies Championship. The first to do so was Kristen Gillman during the inaugural event in 2019. At LPGA International Busan, the 13 (par 3) also proved to be her lucky number. From a distance of 179 yards, Gillman holed out with a 4-hybrid, marking the first ace of her professional career and winning a BMW 740Li XDrive.
Three years later, something unparalleled happened at the Oak Valley Country Club. The BMW Group has been involved in international professional golf since 1989, but what occurred at the 2022 BMW Ladies Championship had never been seen before when two Hole-in-One Awards were won on the same day. During round three of the BMW Ladies Championship, South Korean Na Yeon Choi was rewarded for her dream shot on the 12th hole with a BMW X7 xDrive40i. A short while later, cheers rang round the course again, as Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn aced the 17th to win a BMW 740i.
Since that ‘Super-Saturday’ in October 2022, no other BMW professional tournament around the world has seen such a spectacular double. The BMW Ladies Championship 2025 offers the chance to make golf history once again this week.
BMW i7 M70 xDrive: WLTP energy consumption combined: 23.7 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A; WLTP electric range: 490-559 km
MINI JCW Countryman ALL4: WLTP energy consumption combined: 8.2 l/100 km; WLTP CO2 emissions combined: 186 g/km; CO2-class:
BMW iX xDrive45: WLTP energy consumption combined: 17.8 kWh/100 km; WLTP CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km; CO2-class: A; WLTP electric range: 602 km