A DOUBLE bogey on the ninth hole didn’t deter Rio Takeda as she rallied with four birdies over her final seven holes to shoot a five-under 67, sharing the lead with fellow Japanese player Eri Okayama at the Women’s British Open.
The opening round at Royal Porthcawl saw a remarkable surge from Japanese golfers, who held the top three spots, with Miyu Yamashita just one stroke back at 68.
Three other Japanese players were also among the top 12, as about half the field managed to finish at par or better despite the challenging wind.
Takeda, a winner on the LPGA Tour this year, showed her resilience after the costly double bogey on the par-5 ninth. Okayama, who plays on the Japan LPGA, secured her final birdie on the 17th with a precise fairway metal shot to within 12 feet of the pin.
While the Japanese contingent thrived, the day was a mixed bag for amateur standout Lottie Woad. Fresh off a win against a strong field at the Women’s Scottish Open in her professional debut, Woad entered the tournament as the betting favorite.
She managed to stay in contention with an even-par 72, a score she was happy to salvage after some early struggles. “I am happy how I hung in there and got a decent round together,” said Woad, who played in a marquee group alongside defending champion Lydia Ko (73) and two-time major winner Lilia Vu (74).
World No. 1 Nelly Korda, whose ranking is at risk, also had a solid performance. After an early bogey, she played a clean round with three birdies to finish at 70.
Korda credited a series of key pars, including a crucial 12-footer on the 16th, for keeping her score low. “Sometimes you have to get lucky when you make the wrong decision,” she said, reflecting on how she had to bail herself out during the round.
Other notable players in the field included Mao Saigo, who won the first LPGA major of the year, and Chisato Iwai, a Riviera Maya Open winner. Both finished in a large group at 69.
Joining them was England’s Mimi Rhodes, who leads the Ladies European Tour money list. Rhodes, who grew up playing across the Bristol Channel, felt the tough conditions in a practice round a month ago helped her navigate Thursday’s wind, making it “more manageable” for her first Women’s British Open. / FROM THE WIRES