Charley Hull made the dream begin to her bid for a maiden main title by grabbing a one-shot lead after the opening spherical of the AIG Ladies’s Open at St Andrews.
Hull – who completed runner-up in final yr’s contest – produced six birdies with a lone bogey on a windy day across the Previous Course, with a five-under 67 seeing her high the leaderboard forward of former main champion Ruoning Yin and world No 1 Nelly Korda.
Korda was taking part in alongside Hull and produced a birdie-birdie end to get inside one of many lead, whereas defending champion Lilia Vu – finishing that marquee threeball – sits simply two strokes again after a formidable opening-round 69.
Former main champion Patty Tavatanakit matched Korda’s late birdie burst to hitch Vu within the group on three beneath, whereas Olympic gold medallist Lydia Ko and 2018 Ladies’s Open champion Georgia Corridor each began with one-under 71s.
Stars impress at windy St Andrews
The R&A had warned pre-tournament that climate delays have been ‘a danger’ due to the robust winds forecast on the opening day, though the primary spherical was accomplished with out suspension regardless of brutal situations and a gradual tempo of play.
Yin delivered a shocking begin within the worst of the winds within the morning wave, the place solely 4 gamers posted rounds beneath par, with 5 birdies in a seven-hole stretch briefly taking her 4 forward and threatening a course report.
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Ruoning Yin made a scorching begin to her AIG Ladies’s Open title problem, mixing seven birdies with three bogeys throughout an eventful opening spherical
The previous KPMG Ladies’s PGA champion then bogeyed two of her final 4 holes to complete with a four-under 68, which remained the lead till Hull made her cost up the leaderboard.
Hull responded to a bogey on the par-three eighth by birdieing three of her subsequent 4 holes, then bounced again from failing to reap the benefits of a lucky break off a rake on the par-five 14th to birdie the following and transfer stage with Yin.
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Hull was saved by a rake from going within the bunker on the par-five 14th, though did not take benefit
The 28-year-old capped off a formidable opening day with a birdie on the par-four final to maneuver into the outright benefit, whereas Korda birdied three of her final 5 holes to remain inside one among her taking part in associate.
Extra to comply with…
Who will win the AIG Ladies’s Open? Watch all 4 rounds stay this week on Sky Sports activities! Reside protection of the second spherical continues on Friday at noon on Sky Sports activities Golf. Stream the ladies’s majors and extra sport with NOW.
