Australia’s Hannah Inexperienced endured a troublesome opening spherical as world No.2 Nelly Korda led the way in which with a seven-under par 65 at The Chevron Championship in Houston, Texas.
After storming house from six pictures again to win in a playoff in Los Angeles 4 days in the past, Inexperienced was broadly tipped as one of many favourites for the primary ladies’s main of the 12 months.
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The 29-year-old will once more want to tug off a exceptional chase right down to win for the fifth time this 12 months, nonetheless, after taking pictures a one-over par 73.
Inexperienced began promisingly with three birdies in her first six holes, however bogeys on the second and ninth ensured she reached the flip in 35.
The world No.5 was fairly constant on the again 9, making eight pars, however a double bogey on the par 4 twelfth proved expensive.
Cassie Porter was the most effective of the eight-strong Australian contingent, making 4 birdies in a two-under par 70.
The 23-year-old in her second 12 months on the LPGA has taken the sturdy type she harnessed on house soil together with her to the USA.
Porter shot a course report 62 at Kooyonga within the last spherical of the Ladies’s Australian Open final month to complete runner-up to Inexperienced.
Karis Davidson is a shot again from Porter after opening with a 71, however no different Australian broke par.
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Steph Kyriacou and Robyn Choi sit alongside Inexperienced at one-over par, whereas world No.7 Minjee Lee shot a two-over 74.
The three-time main champion has the prospect to finish the profession grand slam this week at a venue, Memorial Park, the place her brother, Min Woo, claimed his maiden PGA Tour victory final 12 months.
Fellow main winner Grace Kim additionally wants a strong second spherical to make the minimize after a gap 75.
Gabi Ruffels, whose begin to the 12 months has been hampered by a wrist harm, is additional again at six-over par.
In the meantime, Korda charged to the highest of the leaderboard with a bogey free afternoon spherical.
The American, who received this occasion in 2024, lit up the second 9 – having teed off the tenth – with 5 birdies to ascertain a two-shot buffer from 2021 champion Patty Tavatanakit and Korea’s Somi Lee.
“What was I impressed with? General every part,” Korda informed reporters post-round.
“I made some good putts for par as nicely. I really made a very lengthy one on my first gap which may have began out the day with a bogey and I didn’t. I made a very strong putt.
“Even on the second gap the place I saved most likely a five-footer for birdie and I feel I saved virtually a seven-footer — sorry for par. And I additionally saved a few seven, six-, seven-foot slider for par on the primary gap.
“So made some good up and downs. Made some good saves for par. I feel simply general I used to be fairly pleased with each a part of the sport.
“Simply perhaps hit my driver slightly bit far left and proper on a pair holes. There wasn’t only one direct miss. However on a golf course like this the place the tough isn’t too excessive I feel it’s okay.”
The story of the day, nonetheless, belonged to newbie Farah O’Keefe, who shot a four-under 68.
A bogey on the final was O’Keefe’s solely blemish for the day.
The world No.4 newbie is from the College of Texas and just lately shot 64 in a observe spherical at Augusta Nationwide forward of the Augusta Nationwide Ladies’s Novice.
“It was type of final minute (the invite). Received it proper after ANWA,” O’Keefe mentioned.
“When Taylor informed me that, she informed me I bought an invite I used to be like, no probability. That’s loopy.
“As a result of it was type of at all times a type of issues the place I used to be like, dang, I’m from Texas. It’s the one occasion in Texas. That may be actually, actually particular to play within the Chevron. After which when the invitation got here I used to be like, all proper, cool. We bought it. It’s recreation time. Let’s go.”