Ireland’s Leona Maguire opened with an 8-under 62 Thursday to take an early two-stroke lead at the Pelican Women’s Championship at Belleair, Fla.
Defending champion Sei Young Kim of South Korea fired a 64 to sit alone in second place at Pelican Golf Club.
Seven players sit tied for third, three shots back at 65.
Maguire birdied two of her first three holes en route to eight for the round, turning in a clean card.
“It was pretty stress-free,” Maguire said. “I think I played the par-3s really well and birdied all of them, which really helped. … Probably the best I’ve drove it in quite a while. Had a lot of control over my golf ball today, which I feel like is key on this golf course just the way the greens are.”
Kim also posted a clean card, including birdies on her first three holes. She finished with four total and an eagle on the par-5 14th.
“The first three holes I had a birdie … so, yeah, I got — I had a good momentum,” Kim said. “I’m very happy with all. Yeah, play good today.”
Americans Nelly Korda, Lexi Thompson and Danielle Kang are among the players bunched together in third, all taking different paths to their 65s.
Thompson was the only one of that trio to play bogey-free golf. Korda posted a bogey while Kang carded two bogeys. Thompson birdied No. 1 and finished strong with three in her final seven holes.
“I definitely felt good with my putter, but just playing aggressive, going for the few pins that you could,” Thompson said. “There are a few longer holes out there, but at the same time, there is a lot of shorter holes as well. So taking advantage of those and getting pars on the harder ones is key.”
–Field Level Media
