Frenchwoman Celine Boutier closed her opening round by holing a solid birdie putt on the last to take a one-shot lead at the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
Frenchwoman Celine Boutier closed her opening round by holing a solid birdie putt on the last to take a one-shot lead at the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup.
Boutier won the Vic Open in Australia last month to claim her first LPGA Tour title, but could a second be on the cards this weekend? Her opening round yesterday in Phoenix certainly proved her game is good enough. She shot a bogey-free round of 8-under par, with four birdies on the front nine and four on the back, to lead the field by one shot.
Alan Uriell, Jin Young Ko, Na Yeon Choi, Nanna Koerstz Madsen and England's Charlotte Thomas are all hot on her heels at 7-under.
Making regular appearances at the top of the LPGA's leaderboard recently, Thomas started with a bogey at the par-4 1st yesterday. She followed it up with a birdie on the 2nd and eight more followed for a flawless finish.
Top-ranked Sung Hyun Park, Cheyenne Knight Carlota Ciganda, Jenny Shin and Pornanong Phatlum all tied just behind the cluster of players after rounds of 66, 6-under.
In only her third tour start, Sarah Schmelzel opened with a 67 to tie at 5-under alongside Lydia Ko and Brooke Henderson. Women's Australian Open winner Nelly Korda is just one behind them after a round of 68.
Defending champion Inbee Park shot 69.
The 17th hole saw a bit of excitement in the opening round as Xiyu Lin had a hole-in-one. She went on to card a 2-under par round of 70.
Image credit: Steve Dykes/Getty Images
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