4 of the six Australians golfers competing on the 81st Girls’s US Open are nearby of the chief after the opening spherical in Los Angeles.
Karis Davidson and Minjee Lee shot two-under-par 69s on Thursday (Friday AEST) at Riviera Nation Membership to be in a six-way tie for eighth.
Compatriots Hannah Inexperienced and Stephanie Kyriacou are an extra stroke again, Grace Kim (72) is one over and Sarah Hammett (80) 9 over.
Lee’s bogey-free first spherical of the second ladies’s main of the 12 months was highlighted by birdies on the primary and ninth holes.
The 156-player subject are preventing for the $US12 million ($17 million) in prize cash and American Jennifer Kupcho leads the way in which, her five-under 66 incomes a one-stroke lead over South Korea’s Sei Younger Kim.
The 29-year-old Kupcho, who has 4 profession LPGA Tour wins however only one since 2022, made seven birdies and two bogeys.
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“I simply actually, actually just like the golf course,” mentioned Kupcho, who missed the reduce in her three earlier US Open begins.
“It is type of a ball-striker’s paradise. Simply hit it down the golf green, hit it on the inexperienced and make the putts.”
Your entire subject managed only one eagle within the first spherical — Allisen Corpuz holed out with a six-iron from 86 yards on the seventeenth.
Mexico’s Gaby Lopez and Japan’s Hinako Shibuno joined South Korea’s Hyunjo Yoo, Ina Yoon and Minji Kang within the group at 68.
World primary Nelly Korda (73) made a tough begin, struggling off the tee to complete two over.
“It wasn’t an awesome day,” Korda mentioned.
“I hit it actually good Monday by way of Wednesday, so I’ve actually no concept the place this got here from. So I’ll go to the vary.”
Aphrodite Deng, a 16-year-old newbie, was in rivalry for the lead earlier than taking part in two late holes at three over and carding a 70.
Deng was born in Canada to Chinese language mother and father earlier than rising up in New Jersey and finally settling in Florida.
A aggressive little one determine skater for a number of years earlier than the COVID-19 pandemic, Deng took up golf solely seven years in the past, however received the US Ladies’ Junior final 12 months.
AAP/AP
