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EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Paula Reto had eight birdies as she carded a 7-under 64 to take a shock first-round lead on the Evian Championship on Thursday.
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The 33-year-old South African holds a two-shot lead over 2015 champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand and three different gamers locked on 66: Frenchwoman Celine Boutier, American Alison Lee, and Thai golfer Wichanee Meechai — who recovered from a bogey and a double bogey early on.
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“I had a lot enjoyable,” Reto stated. “The views and every part, it’s simply superior to be right here. I hit some good high quality photographs starting of the spherical and simply gave myself alternatives.”
Reto’s stellar spherical was maybe shocking as a result of she has solely received one match on the LPGA Tour and has by no means positioned greater than 18th at a serious championship.
“You by no means know out right here with this golf course. Something is feasible,” Reto stated. “You’ve simply obtained to offer your self the very best alternative to make par and birdie.”
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Her solely blemish was a bogey on the eleventh gap on the Evian Resort Golf Membership, which celebrated its tenth anniversary as a serious.
American Angel Yin, who combined seven birdies with 4 bogeys, was in a gaggle of 9 gamers who’re three photographs behind Reto after posting a 4-under 67.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson of Smiths Falls, Ont., who received in a wild finale final yr for her second profession main, carded a 2-under 69. She had a combined spherical with 4 birdies and two bogeys.
American Angela Stanford, the 2018 champion, and Australian Minjee Lee, who received the 2021 match in a sudden-death playoff, joined Henderson amid a giant group all on 69.
That put them one stroke forward of World No. 1 Jin Younger Ko — one among three South Koreans to win the match because it turned a serious in 2013 — and one additionally away from American Nelly Korda, the Olympic champion, and Eire’s Leona Maguire, the Meijer LPGA Basic winner.