Leaderboard: -8 A Iwai (Jpn); -6 P Delacour (Fra); -5 C Hull (Eng), M Stark (Swe), R Haeran (Kor), I Jin Hee (Kor); -4 C Gainer (Eng), L Woad (Eng), J Yan (US), R Yin (Chn), B Henderson (Can), E Hara (Jpn), M Kang (Kor)
Selected others: E L Maguire (Ire); +2 L Walsh (Ire); +3 N Korda (US); +5 M Rhodes (Eng)
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Charley Hull laughed off strategies her caddie’s ice cream helped fireplace her to 3rd place after day one of many Evian Championship in southern France.
The 30-yr-outdated was noticed holding the candy deal with on the fifteenth gap earlier than closing with two birdies and an eagle to finish her day at 5 beneath par, three photographs behind Aki Iwai of Japan’s lead.
“I didn’t eat it,” she stated. “My boyfriend got it for my caddie, so I held it for a minute when he was putting my club in the bag!”
In sweltering situations, Hull was two over par after six holes however recovered to seek out 5 birdies over her subsequent 11 holes earlier than selecting up two photographs on the par-5 18th.
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Her rating of 66 is her joint-lowest first spherical in a significant.
At the highest of the pack, Iwai went bogey-free in her high quality spherical of eight beneath par and is 2 away from Perrine Delacour from France.
Hull shares third place with three different gamers, whereas compatriots Lottie Woad and Cara Gainer are an additional shot again at 4 beneath.
World primary Nelly Korda, who gained the primary two majors of the 2026 season, has work to do on Friday after capturing a 3-over 74 to languish in a share of 102nd place.
Hull bounces again after Evian collapse
Hull says caddie Adam Woodward ate the ice cream on the fifteenth gap [Getty Images]
Last yr on the Evian Championship, Hull was forced to withdraw after collapsing twice throughout her first spherical.
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She later defined she had been “battling a virus” and was handled on the Evian-les-Bains course with out requiring a hospital journey.
Her opening day was far more profitable this yr, albeit after a gradual start.
In temperatures pushing 30C, Hull stated she loved being within the warmth, even when she prevented indulging within the ice cream.
“I like the heat on my back because I have a few injuries,” she stated. “The warmer it is, the more I am able to move.
“I simply drink a great deal of water on each gap and have a great deal of electrolytes. I eat each different gap – however I did not eat the ice cream.”
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Still searching for her first major title, Hull has finished second in three out of the five tournaments on the LPGA circuit, including at last month’s US Open.
In total, she has five runners-up finishes at golf’s biggest events since her maiden appearance in 2012. Her previous first-round best of 66 was also at the Evian Championship in 2022, when she finished in a tie for third
Korda stumbles while Woad and Gainer lurk
World number one Nelly Korda has finished either first or second in seven of her 10 starts this season [Getty Images]
Korda has won four times already this year, including two majors, and once again was clear favourite to pick up her first Evian Championship.
Only it did not work out like that.
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Opening with a double bogey, the American was four over through five holes and, despite picking up two birdies around the turn, she closed with a bogey to sit 11 shots off the lead after day one.
The four-time has only finished outside the top 10 once in 10 events this season – she may need something special tomorrow just to make the cut, which will be the top 65 and ties.
As for England’s Woad, last season’s Evian Championship was her last event as an amateur and she almost won, finishing one shot behind eventual champion Grace Kim and Jeeno Thitikul at 13 under par.
An opening 66 puts her back in contention here and she flashed her talent in carding five birdies and an eagle alongside three bogeys on the front nine.
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“I performed fairly stable,” Woad said. “It’s good coming someplace you are extra accustomed to as this yr to date each course has been new.”
It was a smoother spherical for Gainer, who shared the 54-gap lead in 2025 earlier than ending with a 3-over 74 to complete in a tie for 14th.
She had a clear card and located 4 birdies in capturing 67.