Puerto Rico’s Torres shares early Evian lead with Ciganda

EVIAN, France: Maria Torres, the first Puerto Rican to play in a women’s major, and Spain’s Carlota Ciganda both fired sixunder par opening rounds of 65 to share the early lead at the Evian Championship on Thursday.

World number 184 Torres missed the cut on her major debut at the LPGA Championship earlier this year, but a round featuring six birdies and an eagle at the long 15th made for the perfect followup.

The pair led by one from American Austin Ernst and by two from a formidable trio of former world number one Ryu Soyeon and two of the world’s best youngsters -- Brooke Henderson and Nasa Hataoka.

Two-time major champion Ryu made her intentions clear with a round only marred by a bogey at the 18th.

“I am pleased with six birdies in my 67, but disappointed to drop a shot at the last. One bad tee shot -- hopefully my last,” she said.

Torres, who missed the cut in 11 of her first 16 LPGA events this year, couldn’t have been happier with her sparkling performance at the final major of the year.

“I love the course and, I don’t know, but everything seemed to go in,” said the LPGA Tour rookie with a sense of bemusement. “It’s such an honour to be here.”

Canadian Henderson won her first major aged just 18 at the LPGA Championship two years ago, while Hataoka made history when she won the 2016 Japan Women’s Open as a 17-year-old amateur. - AFP