Aki Iwai leads and Nelly Korda struggles in first round at Evian women’s major
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Aki Iwai shot an 8-under 63 for a two-stroke lead on Thursday in the first round of the Evian Championship, the fourth women’s golf major of the season, as top-ranked Nelly Korda struggled.
The 24th-ranked Iwai had eight birdies and no dropped shots in the sun-splashed lakeside town that three weeks ago hosted the G7 summit of world leaders.
Japan’s Iwai made birdies at three of the last four holes, including the par-5 18th, and led by two shots from Perrine Delacour, whose 6-under 65 included an eagle at the par-5 15th and a pair of bogeys toward the end of her round.
A group of five players with 5-under 66s included the winner of the Women’s PGA Championship two weeks ago, Haeran Ryu, and world No. 5 Charley Hull, who started the week as a guest in the Royal Box at Wimbledon.
