Paula Reto sunk eight birdies in her opening round at the Evian Championship; Lydia Ko in a group of four two shots further back; Watch the final major of the year live on Sky Sports
Thursday 27 July 2023 20:38, UK
South Africa's Paula Reto shot a seven-under-par 64 on Thursday to build a two-shot lead after the first round of the Evian Championship in Evian-les-Bains, France.
Reto carded eight birdies during her round at the Evian Resort Golf Club, which is hosting the fifth and final major of the year - which is live on Sky Sports.
After starting on the 10th, the 33-year-old bogeyed the 11th but bounced back at the next and picked up a shot on the 15th before consecutive gains on the 18th and first.
Reto then made a hat-trick of birdies from the fifth to take control of the fourth major of the year. She completed her round with another birdie on the ninth to establish a two-shot lead.
"This golf course is so fun and the views and everything, it's just awesome to be here," she said. "You never know out here with this golf course. Anything is possible. You just got to give yourself the best opportunity to make par and birdie."
Reto's stellar round was perhaps surprising because she has only won one tournament on the LPGA Tour and has never placed higher than 18th at a major championship.
Reto holds a two-shot lead over a group of four players that includes former world No 1 Lydia Ko of New Zealand, France's top-ranked player Celine Boutier, American Alison Lee and Thailand's Wichanee Meechai.
Defending champion Brooke Henderson shot a two-under 69 on Thursday and is in a deep group tied for 19th that also includes LPGA Tour rookie star Rose Zhang and Linn Grant, who won the Dana Open two weeks ago.
Current World No 1 Jin Young Ko of South Korea and second-ranked Nelly Korda are six shots off Reto's lead after opening with one-under 70s.
England's Jodi Ewart Shadoff and Northern Ireland's Stephanie Meadow are among those on two under
"If I can just go out and give myself the best chance possible, good club selection, know where to be on the green, just know when the putts are downhill, uphill, so all that stuff to keep my brain occupied with good information," Reto said of her mindset entering the second round.
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