After the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup in New Jersey, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom is in the lead with a score of 63 (-9). Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, first Frenchwoman on the leaderboard, plays under the PAR with a card of 71 (-1):  she is 47th.

Sagstrom in the lead, Roussin-Bouchard under par

Madelene Sagstrom during the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup – via Twitter @LPGA

After the first round of the Cognizant Founders Cup on the Upper Montclair Country Club course, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom is in first place on the leaderboard. She returned a card of 63 (-9) on this first day thanks to nine birdies. She got off to a flying start with four birdies on her first four holes. 

She is thus one step ahead of the American Megan Khang. The 2019 and 2021 Solheim Cup player returns to the clubhouse with a 64 (-8), eight birdies.

The Japanese Nasa Hataoka completes the podium with a card of 65 (-7).

Jin Young Ko, world number 1 and double defending champion ranks 22nd after this first day. She returns a score of 69 (-3), six birdies for three bogeys and is six shots behind the leader.

The French outdistanced by the Swede:

Pauline Roussin-Bouchard, first Frenchwoman, ranks 47th with a card of 71 (-1). She signs five birdies for four bogeys. She manages to play under par with only 11 greens in regulation, thanks to 28 putts. She is eight shots behind the leader.

Céline Boutier and Agathe Laisné, the two other French women involved in this Cognizant Founders Cup rank 92nd with cards of 73 (+1). 

Céline Boutier, part of the 10th, started her game rather well, presenting herself at -3 at the start of the 12th. She unfortunately signs a double bogey on her twelfth hole then two bogeys on her end of the game. Usually one of her strengths, the French number 1 took only 36% of fairways.

Agathe Laisné also plays 73 (+1). Despite a long solid game (10/14 fairways hit and 78% of greens in regulation), Agathe Laisné commits two bogeys and a double bogey. She still signs three birdies on her day.

To find the complete leaderboard of this Cognizant Founders Cup: click here.

By Baptiste Laurensou.

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Three French women at the start of the Cognizant Founders Cup