Jodi Ewart Shadoff fires error-free 66 to claim Women's Australian Open lead

By Keith Jackson

Thursday 13 February 2020 18:59, UK

Jodi Ewart Shadoff enjoyed a flying start to the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open as a first-round 66 earned her the outright lead at Royal Adelaide.

England's Ewart Shadoff, who has amassed 20 top-10 finishes on the LPGA Tour but has yet to taste victory, birdied her final two holes to complete a bogey-free seven-under par opening day which gave her a one-shot lead over South Korean pair Inbee Park and Jeongeun Lee6.

Park provided an early highlight when she holed her wedge approach to the first for eagle, and the former world No 1 added six birdies although dropped shots at the seventh and 18th holes left her in a share of second with Lee6.

The US Women's Open champion made five birdies in a classy seven-hole mid-round stretch, and she closed out her 67 with her eighth birdie of the round at the ninth.

Defending champion Nelly Korda is three strokes off the pace along with in-form Swede Madelene Sagstrom, the recent winner of the Gainbridge LPGA at Boca Rio, her first Tour title, while Georgia Hall would have been disappointed to sign for a three-under 70 having made four birdies in an outward 33.

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But the first day belonged to Hall's Solheim Cup team-mate Ewart Shadoff, who insisted she has renewed confidence and belief in her own ability as she chases that elusive LPGA breakthrough.

"I feel ready now," she said. "I feel like every part of my game is up to the challenge. It's hopefully going to be a good year and hopefully get that win.

"I really love the golf courses here. I played well last year, and I played well here when it was here a couple of years ago too. I'll just go out there tomorrow and try and do the same thing."