Park fires 63, uses fresh start to lead Evian major

Sung Hyun Park took full advantage of a fresh start to the Evian Championship on Friday, firing an 8-under 63 to lead the rescheduled first round by three shots.

That meant a 14-shot turnaround for the No. 3ranked Park, who had been 6 over through five holes in the rain and wind on Thursday morning. Play was abandoned and all scores wiped from the record, leaving the fifth and final women’s major as a 54-hole event.

The South Korean regrouped and had seven birdies and an eagle to lead by three over Australia’s Katherine Kirk (66). Canada’s Brooke Henderson was 3 over on her round and is tied for 79th.

“I forgot about yesterday and just focused on my play today,” Park said through a translator, acknowledging she was “surprised” that the U.S. LPGA scrapped Thursday’s play.

Tied for third four strokes back were Jessica Korda of the United States and Women’s British Open winner In-Kyung Kim.

Park, the U.S. Women’s Open champion, played in a stellar group with top-ranked So Yeon Ryu (75), her fellow South Korean, and No. 2 Lexi Thompson (70) of the U.S.

Ryu suffered a six-shot swing having been 2 under and sharing the lead with Korda on Thursday when play stopped.

Kirk, playing in the first group on course for a second straight day, said just before the suspension that Thursday had been “the worst conditions I have ever seen.”

Another player to seize their second chance in the cool sunshine was Ai Miyazato of Japan, who is playing her final event before retiring.

Miyazato was in a cluster of players at 3 under, trailing Park by five.