Reto the surprise early leader at Evian

Paula Reto had eight birdies as she carded a 7-under 64 to take a surprise first-round lead at the Evian Championship on Thursday.

The 33-year-old South African holds a two-shot lead over 2015 champion Lydia Ko and three other players locked on 66: Celine Boutier, Alison Lee and Wichanee Meechai — who recovered from a bogey and a double bogey early on.

“I had so much fun,” Reto said. “The views and everything, it's just awesome to be here. I hit some good quality shots beginning of the round and just gave myself opportunities.”

Reto's stellar round was perhaps surprising because she has only won one tournament on the LPGA Tour and has never placed higher than 18th at a major championship.

“You never know out here with this golf course.

Anything is possible,” Reto said. “You've just got to give yourself the best opportunity to make par and birdie.”

Her only blemish was a bogey on the 11th hole at the Evian Resort Golf Club, which celebrated its 10th anniversary as a major.

Angel Yin, who mixed seven birdies with four bogeys, was in a group of nine players who are three shots behind Reto after posting a 4-under 67.

Defending champion Brooke Henderson, who won in a wild finale last year for her second career major, carded a 2-under 69. She had a mixed round with four birdies and two bogeys.

Angela Stanford, the 2018 champion, and Minjee Lee, who won the 2021 tournament in a suddendeath playoff, joined Henderson amid a big group all on 69.

That put them one stroke ahead of World No. 1 Jin Young Ko — one of three

South Koreans to win the tournament since it became a major in 2013 — and one also clear of Nelly Korda, the Olympic champion, and Leona Maguire, the Meijer LPGA Classic winner.

Ashleigh Buhai, who won the ShopRite LPGA Classic last month, could only manage a 1-over 72.

Meanwhile, Ruoning Yin fared poorly on her Evian tournament debut with 73. Last month, she became the second woman from China to win a major at the Women's PGA Championship trophy at Baltusrol.

PGA Tour

Lee Hodges got off to a good start in his bid to make the FedEx Cup playoffs, shooting an 8-under 63 for a one-stroke lead in the first round of the 3M Open.

Hodges is 74th in the FedEx Cup standings; the top 70 will make the playoffs that begin in two weeks.

Kevin Streelman had the best of the afternoon rounds with a 64, matching Hideki Matsuyama, Brandt Snedeker and Tyler Duncan. Emiliano Grillo, Nick Hardy and Justin Suh were another shot back, and defending champion Tony Finau was one of nine players to shoot 66.

PGA Tour Champions

Miguel Angel Jimenez shot a 5-under 66 to take the first-round lead at the Senior British Open, five years after he became the first Spaniard to win the tournament.

Jimenez is two shots ahead of Alex Cejka and Mario Tiziani at Royal Porthcawl. Vijay Singh and Jeev Milka Singh are three shots off the lead.

Jimenez, who edged Bernhard Langer by one shot at St. Andrews in 2018, made six birdies and one bogey.

Defending champion Darren Clarke's 73 included a double bogey on the par-4 No. 1.