Associated Press
Associated Press
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Stacy Lewis of the United States made seven consecutive birdies and tied the Evian Masters record with a 9-under 63 in the opening round on Thursday.
Her birdie flurry from holes 5-11, plus two more on 17 and 18, helped Lewis to a two-shot lead over Hee Young Park of South Korea.
“I didn’t really have anything going the first few holes. I don’t know what changed or clicked,” Lewis said. “It was just one of those days where you get into this rhythm. I was more happy to finish with the two birdies than even the seven, just to get some momentum going into tomorrow.”
Lewis, a two-time winner this year, matched three-time champion Helen Alfredsson’s round of 63, set by the Swede in 2008.
“I know I’ve made six (birdies) in a row before, but I don’t know if I’ve made seven … I almost made eight,” Lewis said. “I definitely think this is one of the lowest rounds I’ve ever shot.”
It marked Lewis’ career-low round. Her previous low was 64, which she shot in the second and fourth rounds of the LPGA Classic in June.
Park, who used a belly putter for the first time, made five straight birdies on the front nine.
South Korea’s Ilhee Lee finished three shots behind Lewis. Colombia’s Mariajo Uribe and Japan’s Mika Miyazato are four behind after 67s. American Paula Creamer shot a 68.
Defending champion Ai Miyazato, who also won in 2009, had three bogeys on the back and finished with a birdie for a 71. She was joined by Inkster and Cheyenne Woods, Tigers Woods’ niece, who trailed the leader by eight shots.
Michelle Wie, who tied for second place in Evian six years ago, finished at 73. Top-ranked Yani Tseng had a 76, compounded by a wild shot into the rough on the 18th.
Park, who failed to make the cut at the U.S. Women’s Open three weeks ago, had a bogey on the fourth hole before her run of birdies. She added three more on the back nine. After shooting 6 under in the pro-am tournament on Wednesday, she sensed the belly putter would work for her.
“I have been playing 15 years, and I have never used the belly putter before,” said Park, who won her only LPGA Tour title at last year’s season-ending Titleholders. “Then, like 10 days ago, I just changed (to) the belly putter.
“My people around me (were) saying ‘Did you know that Ernie Els won (the British Open) last week with the belly putter? Did you see that?’ Then I got more confidence.”
Wie struggled with her putting.
“I felt like I played a lot better than my score,” Wie said. “I hit it good, but it didn’t go in, that was a bit frustrating and affected my momentum.
Tseng’s shot on No. 18 landed deep in the rough at an awkward angle, just above the water. The five-time major winner saved par, but finished with five bogeys and one birdie.
Lewis, who finished 46th at the U.S. Women’s Open three weeks ago, trained hard for the Evian Masters.
“Every year I’ve learned the greens here better and better,” she said. “I feel really good about my game. I just went back and worked hard these last couple of weeks, just mentally getting in a better place.”
CANADIAN OPEN: Scott Piercy shot an 8-under 62 in the first round in Ancaster, Ontario, taking advantage of perfect scoring conditions at the rain-softened Hamilton Golf and Country Club.
Piercy eagled the par-5 fourth and 17th holes and had five birdies and one bogey.
Greg Owen and William McGirt were a stroke back, and Robert Garrigus had a 64.
Ernie Els, the British Open winner Sunday at Royal Lytham & St. Annes, opened with a 72.
SENIOR BRITISH OPEN: Bernhard Langer shot a 6-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Mark McNulty after the first round in Turnberry, Scotland.
Langer, the German star who won the 2010 tournament at Carnoustie, had six birdies on Turnberry’s Alisa Course. Tom Lehman, Michael Allen, David Frost, Jay Don Blake, Dick Mast and Chien Soon Lu shot 66.
Tom Watson opened with a 69. He lost a playoff to Stewart Cink in the 2009 British Open at Turnberry, and won the 1977 British Open and 2003 Senior British Open at the course. The 62-year-old American, a five-time British Open winner and three-time Senior British Open champion, made the cut last week in the British Open.
England’s Roger Chapman had a 72. The Senior PGA and U.S. Senior Open winner is trying to tie Jack Nicklaus’ record of three senior major victories in a season.