The first round of the final major of the year got underway on Thursday with the British Women’s Open from the historic Old Course at St. Andrews on the east coast of Scotland. Charley Hull of Kettering, England is the leader at -5.
Hull had six birdies and one bogey in posting an opening round score of 67. She birdied the fifth, ninth, 10th, 12th, 15th, and 18th holes, and bogeyed the eighth hole.
This is the second straight year that Hull has performed well at the Women’s British Open. Last year she had a tie after three rounds with American Lilia Vu of Fountain Valley, California. Hull ended up finishing in second place behind Vu.
There is currently a two-way tie for second place at St. Andrews. There you can find major champions Nelly Korda of Bradenton, Florida and China’s Ruoning Yin. Korda won the 2021 Women’s PGA Championship and 2024 Chevron Championship. Yin won the 2023 Women’s PGA Championship.
Yin actually had the lead for most of the day before a strong late surge by Hull. It was a challenging day weather wise for the players as they had to battle through a very cold wind.
Meanwhile, there is a six-way tie for fourth place at -3. Those two strokes back are Jenny Shin of South Korea, Mao Saigo of Japan, Vu, the 2023 Chevron Championship and 2023 British Women’s Open winner, Patty Tavatanakit of Thailand, the 2021 ANA Inspiration winner, Mi-hyang Lee of South Korea, and Andrea Lee of Los Angeles, California.
Then there are two golfers three strokes back a -2. Those tied for 10th place are Momoko Osato of Japan and 2014 Evian Championship winner Hyo-joo Kim of South Korea.
