(Walton On The Hill) The United States is aiming for a third female major tournament champion in 2023.
Few would have predicted that Ally Ewing would lead the charge at the Women’s British Open on Thursday.
Ewing eagled on the 16th hole and edged a quintet of female golfers to take first place after turning over a 68 (minus-4) in the final major of the year.
Ranked No. 39, Ewing has not been able to avoid the ax in two of the last three majors and her most recent top 10 at golf’s biggest events was at the Chevron Championship in early 2021.
“I gave myself a small goal, although it’s probably too conservative: to finish the first round in the top-30. That’s what I had in mind, Ewing said. That doesn’t mean that I’m only aiming for a top-30. »
Ewing still has some way to go if she wants to win her first major at 30, though she can take comfort in knowing that the players behind her in the standings aren’t necessarily the best on the tour.
Only one of the five golfers to have shot 69 to tie second place is a former major tournament champion, Jeongeun Lee6, at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open.
Also tied for second are Emily Kristine Pedersen, Perrine Delacou, Jaravee Boonchant and Amy Yang. Only Yang finds herself in the top-50.
American Allisen Corpuz, the U.S. Women’s Open champion at Pebble Beach last month, is part of a 12-player field tied for seventh after returning a 70 card.
Rose Zhang, the new American sensation who turned pro this year, put on a tough fight all day and pared the 18th pennant to be tied for 33rd by virtue of a first-round 72.
The best golfer in the world, Nelly Korda, and number two, Jin Young Ko, both shot 73, good for a tie for 61st.
Céline Boutier, the Frenchwoman who is coming back from two consecutive victories, including one in a major tournament at the Évian Championship, settled for a round of 74. She is far behind in 81st place.
Canadians Brooke M. Henderson and Maddie Szeryk did not have a dream first round. Henderson shot 75 and is currently sitting at 103rd while Szeryk (77) is even further back at 123rd.