EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) ā Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand posted seven birdies in a 7-under 64 at the Evian Championship on Thursday to take a share of the first-round lead with Swedenās Ingrid Lindblad and Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland.
The 24-year-old Tavatanakit won her first major at the ANA Inspiration in 2021 and clinched the for her second title on the LPGA tour.
The trio are of American Lauren Coughlin ā who tied for third at the Chevron Championship for her best finish at a major ā 2014 Evian champion Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea; 2015 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand; South Korean Hye-Jin Choi; Mexican Gaby Lopez and Japan's Ayaka Furue.
American Nelly Korda posted an erratic 2-under 69 for a share of 21st place along with of France, 2022 Evian champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., winner Amy Yang and a raft of other players.
Savannah Grewal of Missisauga, Ont., the only other Canadian i nthe field, shot a 5-over 76.
Korda's round included six birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey on the 16th hole at the picturesque Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, nestled between Lake Geneva and the French Alps. It is a favorite among golfers and the fourth of the five major tournaments this year.
Heading into the tournament, Korda led the tour with $2,943,708 and six titles. The Evian winner receives $1.2 million and there is a total purse of $8 million.
in April to clinch a record-tying fifth straight tournament and a second major title. She is the sister of tennis player Sebastian Korda. Her best performance at Evian was a tie for eighth place in 2022.
Meanwhile, two holes-in-one were made in the morning.
English golfer Jodi Ewart Shadoff used a 9 iron on the par-3 16th hole to earn herself a car from hole sponsor Porsche.
āItās incredible," the two-time Solheim Cup winner said. āFor me, it was clear right away that I was going for the flag if thereās a Porsche at stake. Itās mind-blowing, a very cool moment.ā
aced it on the par-3 5th hole.
āI didnāt see the ball go in,ā she said. āFirst hole-in-one in a major. Iām so excited.ā
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AP golf:
The Associated Press
