Five share first-round spotlight in stunning Evian opener
Maguire’s ace headlines a bogey-free charge to the top in France
Las Vegas - Leona Maguire, Jennifer Kupcho, Andrea Lee, Gabriela Ruffels and Grace Kim all fired six-under-par 65s to share the first-round lead at the Amundi Evian Championship on Thursday at the Evian Resort Golf Club in France.
Maguire thrilled the morning galleries with a hole-in-one at the par-3 second using an 8-iron, part of a round that featured five birdies and just one dropped shot. “It looked good in the air, but you’re never sure here until it lands,” said Maguire, whose mother and sister followed her group. “A pretty special moment on one of the prettiest mornings you could ask for.”
Lee, 26, rolled in seven birdies of her own, saying: “It was just solid. Nothing spectacular, but I took advantage of good looks.” Kupcho finished in style, going birdie-eagle on her final two holes after a steady opening stretch: “It was rocky early, but then I really settled in,” she said. Ruffels and Kim both posted bogey-free cards, with Kim laughing off a wardrobe malfunction that left her “6-under with a busted fly”.
The Evian field remains bunched behind the leading five, with Minjee Lee lurking one shot back after her five-under 66, the best of a strong Australian contingent. World No. 1 amateur Lottie Woad sits three-under, and nine players are tied on four-under, just two off the pace.
Round two begins Friday morning, with groups teeing off from 7am local time. Fans can follow the action live on social media using #evianchamp.