Difficult start for world number one Nelly Korda after a round of the Amundi Evian Championship with a heavy 74, (+3). The Thai Anannarukarn and the American Noh, are co-leaders (-6) Les Bleues are in place with four of the five French women entered in the top 25.

Evian Championship: Anannarukarn and Noh co-leader, Korda in the hard

Six-time LPGA winner Nelly Korda won her first Major last June. (M. Joffres / DR / Amundi Evian Championship)

Under a radiant sky, it was two young talents from the LPGA Tour who stood out at the top of the leaderboard of the Amundi Evian Championship 2021. Pajaree Anannarukarn, 22 years old, 113 world player, and Yealimi Noh, 19-year-old, 62nd in the ranking, from San Francisco, each posted a solid 65 (-6) card on Thursday and shared the lead after 18 holes in the fourth major women's championship of the season.

Noh, who came close to winning at 17 as a non-member, the Cambia Portland Classic in 2019, started with an eagle on the par 4 of hole 1 and ended his round with a birdie on the 18. The 65 is his turn. lowest in a career in a major league.

« Honestly, I just wanted to finish well because starting with an eagle makes you want to play well to get that good start even more. “Said Noh, who made his major league debut at Evian in 2019, finishing T44. " It was a bit slow on the turn, but then I hit a few putts and hit a lot of greens. »

Anannarukarn had six birdies, including a 10-meter one at No.8, on his bogey-less trip around the Evian Resort Golf Club. Like Noh, Anannarukarn pulled his major turn on Thursday and stressed that his short game was the key to success in today's score.

« I think I hit my irons pretty well too, so that really helps, and I hit some long putts, ”said Anannarukarn. « I was just trying, again, to focus on speed and what I was working on, and I think it worked out pretty well.."

World No. 1 Nelly Korda had a difficult day in her quest for a second major title, recording a card of 74, (+3). two birdies against five bogeys. The youngest of the Korda sisters (22) points 99e of the standings, a blow behind his elder (28 years), 88e with a score of 73.

Defending champion Jin Young Ko didn't do much better, scoring 72 +1 over par. The Korean returned four birdies on holes 6, 7, 9 and 18, for five bogeys.

Passed world No.2 after losing the No.1 spot to Nelly Korda, Ko won the Volunteers of America Classic three weeks ago for her first victory of the season and eighth title on the LPGA Tour.

The South Korean won in Evian in 2019 and the event was canceled last year following the health crisis.

"I saw my picture everywhere, so I was like 'Wow, that was just two years ago but I feel like it was five years ago'"said Ko, who won his first major earlier in 2019 at ANA Inspiration.

She took the start shortly after 8:2017 am with former champions Anna Nordqvist (2018) and Angela Stanford (XNUMX).

Stanford recorded a score of 70, or 1 below par, and Nordqvist remained in the par (71)

Inbee Park, a seven-time major winner, ranked No. 3 in the world, is chasing the only major tournament she failed to win. She won Evian in 2012, but that was the year before the tournament became a major.

French side

Four of the five tricolors entered are in the top 25 of the leaderboard. With two solid cards of 68 for Céline Herbin (five birdies against two bogeys) and the amateur Pauline Roussin-Bouchard (four birdies for a single bogey), are in 11e position (68, -3).
Lucie Malchirand (18 years old), having benefited from an invitation and the French number 1 Céline Boutier completed this first lap in 22nd position (-2). Perrine Delacour very far points 88th (+2).

To consult the leaderboard: click here

To read our last article on the Evian Championship:

Amundi Evian Championship: a special week for Céline Boutier