Past champion Lauren Coughlin drained a 30-foot putt on her last hole to take a share of the lead at 6 under with Jenny Shin at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Only 13 players broke par on a windswept day at a firm and fast Dundonald Links, where Sunday-like hole locations had players checking the calendar.
“I think on the third hole, I was asking my caddie, like, are we like playing in the fourth round right now?” said Patty Tavatanakit, who opened with a 71.
The fifth hole, in particular, gave Charley Hull fits. The Solheim Cup star, playing alongside defending champion Lottie Woad and world No. 1 Nelly Korda, putted a 15-foot birdie putt on the par 5 clear off the green, and then chipped four times trying to get back on. She’d ultimately make a nine, one shot better than good friend Georgia Hall, who posted a 10 on the par-5 14th. Hull shot 78 while Hall, in her first LPGA start since giving birth, carded an 82.
“There were a few interesting pin placements on the front nine with the wind, and tough to get it close really,” said Woad, who shot 74. “Didn’t make enough putts to really be under par. But for me, 2-over is not disastrous. Still going to be in it. A day of not trying to play yourself out of it, really.”
Korda, coming in off a missed cut at the Amundi Evian, shot 72 and sits in a share of 14th. She had 30 putts on the day.
A total of 29 players failed to break 80 in the field of 144. Three-time major winner Minjee Lee hit only three fairways in an opening 85 that included three doubles and no birdies. She beat only one player in the field. Lee has missed the cut in her last two starts, including rounds of 77-77 at the Evian.
The scoring average for Day 1 in Scotland was 76.5.
Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA and all things women’s golf.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: At windswept Scottish Open, 29 players fail to break 80
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