Lottie Woad made a robust begin to the ultimate week of play earlier than subsequent month’s Solheim Cup by taking pictures a four-under opening spherical on the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship.
England’s Woad is one in every of 12 members of Anna Nordqvist’s European group heading to the Netherlands for the September 11-13 showpiece, dwell on Sky Sports activities, and she or he shot a 68 at TPC Boston on Thursday to sit down 4 pictures off the tempo set by Korea’s Sei Younger Kim.
Woad, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour since turning skilled final yr, picked up all 4 of her birdies on the entrance 9 to exit in 32 earlier than parring all of the remaining holes.
“I usually performed a bit higher on the entrance 9,” she stated.
“I hit just about each fairway. The tough is fairly thick on the market, so you must hit the fairways.
“Hit some fairly shut pictures on some holes after which did effectively on the par-5s getting on greens, so simply form of had tap-ins on the entrance 9.”
“Only a couple tee pictures on the again 9 that missed the green form of made them par holes reasonably than birdie holes, so simply attempt to clear up that tomorrow.”
Kim, who began on the tenth, claimed six birdies and one eagle – on the par-five seventh – in her spherical of 64.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita completed at seven-under with Somi Lee at six-under making it two Koreans within the high 4.
Woad was in an eight-way tie for fifth place.
Solheim Cup team-mate Charley Hull shot a one-under 71 whereas world No 1 Nelly Korda, who will spearhead Angela Stanford USA’s facet, shot a level-par 72.
In the meantime, European captain Nordqvist – who on Wednesday unexpectedly introduced she was retiring from taking part in skilled golf after this week – opened her swansong match on tour at two-over par.
Alexander hits course file on the The Ok Membership
On day one of many Women European Tour’s rain-hit KPMG Ladies’s Irish Open, Casandra Alexander made a storming begin by firing a course file 63 to paved the way on nine-under.
After Italy’s Alessandra Fanali set the tempo with a 67 at The Ok Membership’s Palmer South Course, Alexander shot 4 pictures decrease because of 4 birdies on the entrance 9 adopted by 5 on the again.
England’s Lily Could Humphreys, Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson are tied second with Fanali on five-under.
Eire’s personal Leona Maguire opened with a spherical of 71 (-1) after three birdies and two bogeys.
Watch the KPMG Ladies’s Irish Open and the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship all through the week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Reside protection from Eire continues Friday from 2pm on Sky Sports activities+ Get newest Sky Sports activities offers or stream with no contract on NOW.