Lexi Thompson made the most of a storming start to the Evian Championship on Thursday as the US golfer sprinted into a tie for the lead with South Korea’s Lee Mi-hyang on five-under-par 66 in Haute Savoie, France.
Thompson, who finished second in the 2010 edition as a 15-year-old amateur and also came third in 2013, began her first round on the back nine and picked up five shots in four holes from the 12th that included an eagle three at the 13th.
“I had a good stretch on my first nine and made a few birdies and an eagle so it helped out with the scorecard,” Thompson told reporters at the final women’s major of the year. “Overall it was a very exciting ride.”
Photo: AP
Thompson, who won her first major by capturing last year’s Kraft Nabisco title, is to make her second appearance in the Solheim Cup next week when the US take on holders Europe at the St Leon-Rot Golf Club in Germany.
Lee, winner of last year’s New Zealand Open, collected seven birdies and two bogeys at the Evian Resort Golf Club.
Sharing third place on 67 were South Korea’s Ji Eun-hee, Thailand’s Pornanong Phatlum and the US’ Gerina Piller.
Denmark’s Nicole Broch Larsen, who won last week’s Helsingborg Open in Sweden, was among a group of players on 68, including Taiwan’s Min Lee.
Broch Larsen, playing in the Evian Championship for the first time, began her second major with a birdie at the second before going on to reach the turn at three-under after rolling in a 35-foot eagle putt at the long ninth.
She then offset a dropped stroke at the 10th with a birdie at the short 16th.
“I played very good today, very solid, and when I missed the green, I made some great up and downs,” Broch Larsen said. “I missed a few short putts for birdies, but minus-three is a nice start.”
Kaohsiung-born Candie Kung of the US carded an even-par 71 to tie for 26th, while Taiwan’s Cheng Ssu-chia finished two-over in a group at 56th and Yani Tseng and Hsu Wei-ling both ended on three-over in a group tied at 70th.
Additional reporting by staff writer
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