Kim Sei-young Shares Opening-Day Honours at Carnoustie

Carnoustie, Scotland: American Nelly Korda maintained her rich vein of form to share the lead with Korean Kim Sei-young and Swede Madelene Sagstrom after day one of the AIG Women’s Open at Carnoustie, as amateur Louise Duncan also shone.

Korda, the Olympic gold medallist and Rolex Women’s Golf World Rankings number one, moved quickly to the top of the leaderboard after a superb opening round of five-under-par 67.

The American, who claimed the KPMG Women's PGA Championship in June, closed with four birdies in her last six holes as she seeks to claim a second Major championship title.

On a calm, overcast day, with the Angus links softened by overnight rain, a number of players thrived in the conditions.

Kim and Sagstrom also opened with 67s to join Korda at the summit. Kim, who won last year’s Women’s PGA, carded four birdies in five holes from the sixth with Solheim Cup-chasing Sagstrom, paired with European captain Catriona Matthew, also enjoying four birdies in her opening six holes.

Duncan delighted the home crowds to sit just a shot off the lead after a four-under-par 68. The 21-year-old Scot won the 118th Women’s Amateur Championship at Kilmarnock (Barassie) in June and continued her love for links golf to sit in a share of fourth place, highlighted by an eagle at the par-five 14th and four solid closing pars over Carnoustie’s demanding finish.

Duncan’s playing partner Georgia Hall, the 2018 champion, rekindled her affection for the championship after the English player recorded six birdies with just two bogeys for her 68.

American Andrea Lee, who started with three birdies, and Yuka Saso, the reigning US Women’s Open champion from the Philippines, also enjoyed excellent first rounds to join Hall and Duncan on four-under-par.

“I’m very happy with how I played and how I finished. Hopefully I can keep this going. I asked Rory (McIlroy) for a bit of advice and it really helped me – maybe I’ll ask him more,” said Saso, runner-up in the inaugural Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific in 2018.

A further three players are well-placed on three-under, namely American pair Lexi Thompson and Lizette Salas and Spaniard Carlota Ciganda.

Former champions Park In-bee of Korean and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno, along with compatriot Nasa Hataoka, are among those tied for 11th on two-under 70, with Thais Ariya Jutanugarn, Patty Tavatanakit, Atthaya Thitikul and Wichanee Meechai, Australians Minjee Lee and Su Oh and Indian Aditi Ashok all carding 71s.

Defending champion Sophia Popov chipped in at the first for a birdie but endured an up-and-down day in signing for a level-par round of 72. Also on even-par is American Rose Zhang, number one in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, while Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani, winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, has work to do if she’s to survive the half-way cut following an opening 76.