Gemma Dryburgh of Scotland has made an impressive start at the Evian Championship, shooting a seven-under par to tie for the lead. Dryburgh’s flawless round included a string of birdies that placed her alongside Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad and Thailand’s Patty Tavatanakit at the top of the leaderboard.
Dryburgh, who finished eighth in the previous year’s event, expressed satisfaction with her putting and acknowledged the benefits of her coach’s presence. She also credited her caddie’s experience at the Evian for her strong performance, highlighting the importance of course familiarity and strategic play.
While Dryburgh excelled, England’s Charley Hull faced a challenging start, carding eight-over par, which significantly hampers her chances of progressing in the tournament. Despite the setback, Jodi Ewart Shadoff of England had a moment to celebrate with a hole-in-one at the 16th, winning a car in the process.
Defending champion Celine Boutier of France and Solheim Cup teammate Georgia Hall both started with two-under par rounds. World number one Nelly Korda, recently sidelined due to a dog bite, returned to form with a 69, featuring six birdies.
Leona Maguire of Ireland, fresh off her victory at the Aramco event, is currently eight shots behind after an opening round of 72. The tournament continues with players aiming to navigate the challenges of the Evian Resort Golf Club and vie for the prestigious title.