Evian Championship: Gemma Dryburgh shares lead after day one

Evian Championship – First Round Standings

-7 G Dryburgh (Scotland), P Tavatanakit (Tha), I Lindblad (Sweden); -6 H Choi (Kor), L Coughlin (US), G Lopez (Mexican), A Furue (Japan), L Ko (NZ), H Kim (Kor)

Selected others: G Hall (Eng), N Kordan (US), +1 L Maguire (Ire), +3 S Meadow (NI), L Woad (Eng); +4 J Ewart (Eng), B Law (Eng)

Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh shares the lead after the opening round of the Evian Championship in France.

Dryburgh posted an impressive seven-under 64 to finish the first round at Evian Resort Golf Club level on points with Thailand’s Paphangkorn Tavatanakit and Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad.

The 31-year-old Dryburgh opened with three birdies after starting on the back nine, before making further progress on the 17th, 18th, second and seventh holes.

“I’m putting well, I’m just seeing the lines really well. My putting coach, Nick Soto, has been with me this week, so I think the work has paid off,” Dryburgh said.

“I also hit the ball well, obviously no dropped shots, so that was fun to do here. It’s not an easy course, but I have really good memories of last year when I finished in the top 10.

“I think a lot of the girls have been here a few times. This is my third time playing it as a major, I played the qualifier years ago. It really helps when I’ve seen it a few times.

“I think this is my caddie’s seventh Evian, so that experience helps a lot, just knowing where to miss sometimes and where the best putts are. I think that can really help.”

England’s Georgia Hall is five strokes behind the leader and shares 21st place with favourite Celine Boutier, last year’s winner.

American world number one Nelly Korda also posted a 69 (two under par), while England’s Charley Hull had a disappointing round, finishing on a score of 79 (eight over par) and is now ranked 130th.