In Gee Chun has one LPGA victory — and a major at that.
She won the women’s U.S.Open last season and here she is at the Evian Golf Club, once again looking for a win and once again it is a major championship.
Only Se Ri Pak has done that — won her first two events with both being majors.
Chun knows it and she knew how to make putts on Thursday in the first round of the Evian Championship, the ladies’ final major of the season. But as good as her eight birdies were, it was only good enough to get her a share of the lead. Sung Hyun Park had another eight — 16 total between the co-leaders who posted 63s.
Surprise of the day was American rookie and former Southern Cal golfer Annie Park. Park, who has missed the cut in her last three events, found something that worked and she fashioned five birdies and an eagle into a 64 along with Olympic bronze medalist Shanshan Feng.
A wet golf course greeted the field after overnight rains and more is expected over the the weekend along with cooler temperatures and wind.
Lydia Ko, the world’s No. 1 and defending champion got off to a slow start. She managed just two birdies on the day and shot 70.
No. 2 Ariya Jutanugarn found trouble at the 18th hole, her ninth of the day. She made triple-bogey there and would finish with a two-over par round of 73.
