Haotong Li and MK Kim lead by one in Cheonan

Haotong Li and MK Kim rose to the top to share the first-round lead after opening 65s at the Genesis Championship at Woo Jeong Hills Country Club.

Chinese star Li has enjoyed a stunning 2025 campaign which saw him claim his fourth DP World Tour title at the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in February alongside top-five finishes at the Volvo China Open, Turkish Airlines Open, Soudal Open and the 153rd Open at Royal Portrush.

He rolled in six birdies in a flawless 65 to set the benchmark in Cheonan, but the home crowd had something to cheer about as Kim birdied the last to become joint leader at six under after eight gains and two dropped shots.

Spain's Alejandro Del Rey is one shot behind after also birdieing the last to climb to five under after six birdies and a bogey.

"Very pleased to finish like this, especially with a couple of up and downs on the last four holes," Li said. "Those were very important to keep momentum going.

"The greens are very tricky and fast. You have to put yourself in the right positions, also off the tee as well. Off the tee, I did well until the last couple of holes. That’s the key for the week.

"I definitely just need to focus on my game. I know the points list (for PGA TOUR cards) is getting tighter and tighter. I just need to play my game and hopefully there are some good results coming up."

Li made his move immediately when he dialled in to three feet at the tenth - his first - before draining another birdie at the 12th from 17 feet to climb to two under.

A classy tee-shot at the 16th then saw him improve his score to three under to reach the turn in 32.

Li had to wait until the fourth to get back in the red numbers and when he produced a brilliant approach from the rough at the next, the 30-year-old was the outright leader at five under.

His putter then got hot again at the eighth as he rolled in from 44 foot to become the first player to reach six under and briefly held a two shot lead as he closed with a par for a blemish-free 65.

Kim also made a fast start with an opening birdie from close range and doubled his score with a brilliant hole-out from the third bunker.

The South Korean picked up his third shot at the fifth from ten feet before adding another birdie at the eighth.

He continued his momentum with a chip-in from just off the tenth green to sit one behind Li, but he slipped back with a dropped shot at the 12th.

The 24-year-old bounced back with a 25 foot birdie at the 14th to return to five under and he was joint leader with another gain at the 15th. A bogey at the 16th followed, but he calmly rolled in from five feet to return to the summit alongside Li.

"I’m really happy with today," Kim said. "I putted really well. My shots weren’t great, but I saved a lot and made a good score.

"I holed a bunker shot and made a lot of putts, that’s what went well today.

"The course is great. I’ve played here a lot of times, so I’m used to it. The greens are in really good condition, so I can putt well on them.

"They (the fans) are supporting me a lot and it really cheers me up. Three days left. I’ll try my best on each of those days."

Del Rey became Li's initial challenger thanks to a patient back nine as he birdied the last to sign for a five under 66.

The Spaniard had birdied the third, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth to put himself at the top of the leaderboard, only to bogey the tenth before parring his way to the last to sit in solo third.

Antipodean trio Daniel Hillier, Elvis Smylie and David Micheluzzi are one shot further back alongside Frenchman Tom Vaillant, English pair Laurie Canter and Joe Dean and Scot Ewen Ferguson.

Defending champion Byeong Hun An carded an opening 76 after a triple bogey, four dropped shots and two birdies.

Malaysia's Gavin Green recorded the 24th ace of the 2025 DP World Tour campaign when he holed his tee-shot at the fourth with an eight iron from 166 yards.

Three players were on the final hole when play was suspended due to darkness at 5.45pm local time.