US Ladies’s Open: Irish newbie Aine Donegan joint second at Pebble Seaside after changing damaged driver | Golf Information

Aine Donegan, who had to make use of a substitute membership after her driver was damaged in transit, is joint second after the opening spherical of the US Ladies’s Open; Watch the second spherical stay on Friday from 9pm on Sky Sports activities Combine and – totally free – on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel

Aine Donegan posted a first-round 69 regardless of being pressured to make use of a substitute driver

Irish newbie Aine Donegan completed only a shot behind the joint leaders regardless of having to play with a substitute driver on the opening spherical of the US Ladies’s Open.

Donegan, taking part in in her first match on the LPGA Tour, arrived at Pebble Seaside after serving to Europe reclaim the Vagliano Trophy in Scotland – however her golf equipment didn’t attain California till Tuesday and, once they did, her driver was damaged.

Nevertheless, regardless of having to supply a substitute Ping driver, the 21-year-old ended up as certainly one of six gamers tied for second place behind China’s Xiyu Lin and Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea after her first-round 69.

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Highlights from Spherical One of many US Ladies’s Open at Pebble Seaside

Regardless of beginning the again 9 with consecutive bogeys, Donegan made 5 birdies and in addition holed out from 96 yards for eagle on the par-four fifteenth gap.

“It is like every thing occurs for a motive, the golf equipment had been late after which the driving force got here and it was damaged,” she stated. “Impulsively I’ve no selection however to place this Ping driver in.

“Truthfully I’m delighted I did. The entire thing has been a bit surreal to be sincere – almost each 5 minutes it is like a pinch-me second.

“It would not be the primary time I began bogey-bogey. For me to come back again then and end how I completed and play the remainder of the spherical, I am actually pleased with myself for that.”

Xiyu Lin shares the lead after the opening spherical of the US Ladies’s Open

World No 9 Lin, the highest-ranked participant with out an LPGA Tour win, carded a four-under 68 at Pebble Seaside and was later joined by Kim, who holed a 20-foot birdie on the seventeenth to attract stage together with her rival.

Lin registered 5 birdies in her spherical and only a single bogey, on the closing gap, whereas Kim piled up 4 birdies over her first eight however then had a bogey on the subsequent earlier than recovering to grow to be co-leader once more.

Becoming a member of Donegan on 69 had been fellow Irish participant Leona Maguire – who birdied two of her closing 4 holes – Nasa Hataoka of Japan, South Korea’s Hae Ran Ryu and USA’s Bailey Tardy and Allisen Corpuz.

England’s Jodi Ewart Shadoff opened with a one-under-par 71, two higher than compatriot Charley Hull and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.

Hyo Joo Kim’s 20-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth saved her stage with Lin on the high of the leaderboard

One other trio of English gamers – Alice Hewson, Charlotte Thomas and Bronte Regulation – completed on 74, with Georgia Corridor an additional two strokes again.

Rose Zhang, the 20-year-old sensation who received on her skilled debut earlier this season, additionally opened with a 74.

World No 1 Jin Younger Ko made just one birdie in a gap 79, three worse than No 2 Nelly Korda, who put her opening drive over the cliff and onto the seashore on the tenth.

Natthakritta Vongtaveelap of Thailand solely made it by way of 5 holes of the primary spherical earlier than she was disqualified for her caddie utilizing a rangefinder, which is allowed at different LPGA occasions.

Watch the US Ladies’s Open all through the week stay on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection continues Friday from 9pm on Sky Sports activities Combine, the pink button on Sky Sports activities Golf, and – totally free – on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.