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Stephanie Meadow leads the trio of Irish rivals on two-bass, just four shots behind leader Nelly Korda, at the ANA Inspiration tournament in California, the second major of the year.
The Jordanstown native was one of those who started late, sitting in one part for 19th place, making steady progress initially with birdies in fourth, sixth and eleventh places, putting her within a shot of the leader in three under. par after 12 holes.
But back-to-back bogeys on holes 13 and 14 saw her fall back to one under.
However, a birdie on the final par-five hole leaves her two under and within attacking distance heading into the second round after that 70 opening.
Leona Maguire was three shots behind when Cavan’s golfer loaded a one over par 73 at Mission Hills Country Club. She birdied on the third, 11 and 18, but the bogeys on the 8, 13, 14 and 16 saw Maguire unleash a shot.
Olivia Mehaffey was also among those who took the course early. The amateur player, based out of Arizona State University, is four shots behind Maguire on five more after shooting a 77.
The Tandragee, County Down native had three birdies but loaded eight bogeys in the first round.
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Leader Korda cut through the heat on day one in California to maintain a one-stroke lead after posting a 66 of six-under.
The American birdied the first and third holes before throwing another five birdies and nine pairs at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage.
The 22-year-old said that controlling the heat, which reached 34 degrees in the middle of the day, was crucial.
“It was definitely hot at the beginning of my round, then towards the end we got a little bit of cloud cover so it was really nice. And drinking lots of water and being very patient is the key,” he said. he told reporters.
South Korea’s In Gee Chun and Madelene Sagstrom of Sweden scored 67-for-five under par, while world No. 2 Danielle Kang is among the five players tied for fourth.
England’s Mel Reid and Georgia Hall are three strokes behind the lead with a part of the ninth.
Before the start of the tournament, the controversy over the omission of the new main champion, Sophia Popov, gave way to concerns about extreme heat.
Carts have already been told that they can use carts for tournament rounds and that could extend to players as the situation is exacerbated by smoke from the California wildfires.
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