2 years ago
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ARTICLE AD BOX
Lee-Anne Pace's best finish in a major is a tie for sixth at the 2015 Evian Championship| -5 L-A Pace (SA); -4 R Yin (Chn), X Lin (Chn), B Henderson (Can); -3 W Meechi (Tha) |
| Selected others:-2 L Maguire (Ire); Level M Reid (Eng); +1 G Dryburgh (Sco), C Thomas (Eng);+2 S Meadow (NI); +4 J Ewart (Eng), L Davies (Eng); +5 B Law (Eng); +8 C Hull (Eng), G Hall (Eng) |
| Full leaderboard |
Ireland's Leona Maguire is three shots off the lead after the opening round of the Women's PGA Championship, the second women's major of 2023.
Solheim Cup player Maguire, 28, finished the morning wave with a share of the lead on two-under 69 before she was passed by the afternoon starters.
World number 193 Lee-Anne Pace of South Africa is the surprise leader after the opening day at Baltusrol in New Jersey.
The 42-year-old closed with four birdies in her final eight holes.
"I honestly did not expect to be leading the tournament after day one," Pace said.
"It's a very, very difficult golf course. To be in my position, I'm just really happy that I had a good score."
Xiyu Lin and Ruoning Yin of China as well as Canada's Brooke Henderson are in a share of second place on four under, with Wichanee Meechai of Thailand shooting a three-under 68.
Maguire is a shot further back and is tied with Ayaka Furue of Japan and LPGA rookie Celine Borge of Norway.
The Irishwoman is one of the form players on the circuit after she stormed to her second tour triumph on Sunday with a stunning back-nine 30 in a closing 64 to claim the LPGA Classic.
World number one Jin Young Ko of South Korea opened with a one-over 72 while second-ranked Nelly Korda struggled to a five-over 76 in her first start after taking more than a month off with back pain.
England's Melissa Reid was the only British player one not to suffer an over-par round as she shot a level 73.
English (US) ·